The 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), co-financed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), has been implemented in cooperation with Kaunas and Vilnius Airports in Lithuania.
Within the framework of the electricity supply infrastructure modernization project at Riga Airport, a comprehensive solution was implemented to improve and upgrade the power supply network.
Infrastructure improvements implemented within the project
Modernization of the electrical grid and reconstruction of substations
Three 10 kV substations (TP-19, TP-21, and TP-29) were replaced with a single new substation (TP-2037), which is connected to a 20 kV electricity network. All existing consumers from the 10 kV substations were switched to the new 20 kV substation, thereby reducing electricity losses in both distribution and transformation processes.
Development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure
A total of 27 electric vehicle charging stations were installed in key transport locations—on the apron area of Riga Airport and in the technical zone near the airport’s technical services building and maintenance workshops.
The charging points are designed for power levels of 50 kW, 100 kW, and 200 kW to ensure appropriate charging speeds and to support the power requirements of all technical units, including electric buses and heavy-duty equipment.
Construction of a solar panel park
As part of the project, a solar power plant with a capacity of 348 kW was installed on the roofs of Riga Airport’s technical services building and waste hangar. In total, 758 solar panels were installed. The solar park is connected to the new substation (TP-2037), built within the project and linked to the 20 kV electricity network, providing electricity to the newly established charging stations (connection points for the airport’s and its users’ electric vehicles), as well as to the overall Riga Airport power supply network.
Funding
The total co-financing from the European Union’s “CEF 2 Transport – Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility – Zero Emissions” program amounts to €3.65 million, representing 50% of the total project cost. Riga Airport received €1.79 million, while “Lietuvos oro uostai” received €1.85 million. The remaining funding was provided by the airports from their own resources.
About CINEA
The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) is responsible for implementing the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), which supports the development of highly efficient and sustainable networks in the fields of transport, energy, and digital services.
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.
