Decarbonising Dublin Airport: Land and Power Requirements for Sustainable Aviation Fuels
Decarbonising Dublin Airport's aviation emissions could require significant land and power resources. Achieving full decarbonisation might necessitate diverting land equivalent to Co Tipperary or generating electricity exceeding current national demand. Sustainable aviation fuels could reduce emissions by up to 80% but would require 0.4 to 1 million hectares of land. Alternatively, Direct Air Capture technology could offset emissions but is energy-intensive and expensive. The feasibility of decarbonisation strategies hinges on balancing resource demands and airport capacity expansion.

Decarbonising Dublin Airport's aviation emissions requires substantial land and energy. Full decarbonisation might involve land comparable to Co Tipperary or new electricity demand exceeding current usage.
Sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) can cut emissions by up to 80%, demanding 0.4 to 1 million hectares of land for production. Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology could offset emissions but requires about 5.7 TWh of electricity annually, with significant land implications for renewables. The challenge lies in balancing resource needs and the potential increase in air passenger numbers, necessitating a multifaceted approach to align aviation with climate goals.




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