Arctic Airport Pilot Cuts Emissions 20% With Biogas

One of the world's most remote airports is proving that green energy works even in the harshest climates.

Svalbard Airport, located in Norway's Arctic archipelago, just fired up a new power system that runs entirely on liquefied biogas. The fuel comes from organic waste like manure and animal byproducts, transformed into clean-burning biomethane that generates both electricity and heat for the entire facility.

The timing matters. Emissions from heating and powering Svalbard Airport made up roughly 20% of Avinor's total carbon footprint in 2022. Avinor, Norway's state-owned airport operator, needed a solution that could handle Arctic conditions while dramatically cutting emissions.

The answer came in the form of three micro gas turbines paired with heat recovery systems and a biogas boiler. Norwegian renewable energy company Adigo Renewables led the engineering and construction, partnering with local firms to build a system designed to meet 100% of the airport's on-site energy needs.

"This is a very important climate measure for Avinor," said Anders Kirsebom, Chair of the Board of Svalbard Airport. "With this solution, we are taking a clear step in the right direction."

The pilot phase will run for about a year, testing the system's performance in one of Earth's most challenging environments. After that, the plant will be fully integrated into daily operations.

The Ripple Effect

This Arctic experiment is part of a growing movement across Scandinavia. Norway's Havila Biogass is developing three liquefied biogas plants expected to open between 2027 and 2028. Just this week, another facility in southern Norway announced plans to produce 90 gigawatt hours of bioLNG annually for transport and industrial users.

The technology is gaining traction because it tackles emissions in sectors that are notoriously hard to decarbonize. Heavy industry and remote infrastructure like Arctic airports can't always rely on traditional renewable solutions, making liquefied biogas a practical bridge to a cleaner future.

Norway's Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård emphasized the broader significance. "Aviation is essential for settlement, emergency preparedness and business activity on Svalbard," he said. "At the same time, this infrastructure must be developed in a more sustainable direction."

The project shows that even in places where winter temperatures plunge and supply chains are complicated, renewable energy solutions can work. If biogas can power an airport in the Arctic Ocean, it can work almost anywhere.