Prudent airport management calls for special planning efforts. Airports will need to better understand power demand forecasts, assess on-site energy generation and microgrid technologies, determine the likely timing of these changes, and predict their impact on current infrastructure. Large-Scale Airport Electrification Takes Off A recent Airport Cooperative Research Program study forecast the cumulative impact of…

As fleet operators consider a hydrogen-powered future, infrastructure considerations include the fueling capacity necessary as more FCEVs are added to the fleet, the impact of refueling stations on operational costs and maintenance procedures, and the overall environmental goals of the fleet-electrification transition. Photo courtesy of National Renewable Energy Laboratory Falling Technology Costs, Greater Hydrogen Supplies…

Campus leaders who choose to undertake this challenge should prepare for a long and unpredictable journey. Each campus requires a customized decarbonization strategy, involving a transformation of conventional power sources, building systems, transportation options, and more. The transition will inevitably raise new financial, technical and operational challenges. Electrification powered by renewable energy With solar and…

Fleet Electrification Airports have a long history of converting ground service equipment (GSE) to run on electricity. American Airlines was the first to undertake a major electric GSE (eGSE) conversion. In 2001, the airline replaced their complete fleet of fossil fuel powered GSE at El Paso International Airport. Major airlines have since followed suit, transitioning…

Rising to the challenge, a market for fleet-charging services is taking shape. Fleet electrification creates opportunities for service providers who can efficiently and cost effectively install, operate, monitor and maintain charging equipment and related infrastructure. Greater understanding of these newly emerging business and financing models will ultimately lead to a faster, more widespread and cost-effective…

Losing Power Comes at High Cost Recent utility data suggests the average number of annual weather-related power outages have at least doubled in recent years. Source: Climate Central It remains unusual for extended power outages to occur outside of a major weather event. Such incidents are, however, not unheard of. Reasons backup generators may stop…

Microgrid Benefits Microgrids are independent, self-sustaining, decentralized energy systems that power distinct buildings, campuses or geographic areas. The concept has been around for decades. However, a number of factors has coalesced in recent years to make microgrids and the distributed power sources that feed them less expensive, more efficient and more reliable. The quickly evolving…

Successfully electrifying our nation’s bus fleets requires a renewed appreciation for the often-overlooked bus maintenance depot. The Role of Maintenance Depots To keep electrified fleets charged and well-maintained, bus depots will carry an outsized operational role. Bus depots include facilities and equipment for vehicle fueling, tire changes, washing, cleaning and fare collection, as well as…

After comparing plug-in hybrid, battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell options, the takeaway is clear. Although the total cost of battery-electric buses (BEBs) remains slightly higher compared to hybrid vehicles, BEBs are the most cost-effective option today for reducing bus transit emissions. As vehicle technology continues to advance — battery costs are declining while range…

As fleets shift to become increasingly electric, dispatchable generation and stationary battery electric storage systems (BESS) can be deployed in a hybrid configuration, supplementing available grid power. Electric Buses Will Fuel Load Growth In response to the growth of battery electric buses (BEBs), electric utilities anticipate that entirely new distribution substations, feeders and other infrastructure…