CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency) co-financed project “Establishment of Electricity Supply and Charging Infrastructure in the Baltic States’ Airports in North Sea-Baltic CNC / TEN-T Corridor for the Transition to Environmentally Friendly Operations” (eAIR) will be implemented by a consortium of two partners from the Baltic states: SJSC “Riga International Airport” (RIX) and State Enterprise “Lithuanian Airports” (LTOU).
The objective of the project is to develop electricity supply and charging infrastructure for the transition to environmentally friendly operations in airport territories, resulting in a significant positive impact on the environment in North Sea-Baltic CNC / TEN-T Corridor.
Development of the power supply infrastructure at Riga Airport involves upgrading the existing electrical network from the current 10 kilovolts to 20 kilovolts and installing a solar panel park on the roofs of several airport buildings to generate renewable energy. The project also includes the construction of electric charging points in the apron and technical areas of the airport.
RIX project tasks
- Power distribution grid development
The project will replace three 10 kV substations (TP-19, TP-21 and TP-29) with a new substation (TP-2037) connected to the 20 kV grid. All existing consumers will be switched from the 10 kV substations to the new 20 kV substation, reducing power losses in both the distribution and transformation processes.
- Setting up charging infrastructure for electric vehicles
Development of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles on the apron and in the technical area near the Technical Services building and the repair workshops. The charging points are designed with three power levels, up to 360 kW, 100 kW and 50 kW, to ensure adequate charging speeds and capacities for all technical units.
- Solar power plant development
Solar panels will be installed on the roof of the technical services building and on the roof of the waste hangar, with a total area of approximately 200,000 m2, where a solar park with a total capacity of up to 348,68 kW can potentially be installed.
Project Budget
The total co-financing from the European Union's "CEF2 Transport - Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility - Zero Emissions" programme for the project amounts to EUR 3.65 million, or 50% of the total cost of the project. EUR 1.79 million has been allocated to Riga Airport and EUR 1.85 million to Lithuanian Airports, and the airports will have to invest the same amount themselves.
Improvements to the electricity supply infrastructure must be implemented by the end of the project in November 2025.
About CINEA
The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) plays a key role in supporting the EU Green Deal through the efficient and effective implementation of its delegated programmes. The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is a key EU instrument to promote growth, jobs and competitiveness through targeted infrastructure investment at European level.
