Airport LED Lighting Upgrade
Ireland West Airport completed a major upgrade on their lighting with support from the SME lighting support scheme
Upgrading lights was the first of many energy efficiency projects
Ireland West Airport is Ireland's fourth largest airport and in 2018 they had a record year with 772,000 passengers using the airport. The airport currently serves destinations across the UK and Europe and is served by major European airlines, Aer Lingus, Flybe and Ryanair.
Ireland West Airport is unique in the Irish aviation industry in that it is operated as an independent airport by Connaught Airport Development Company (CADCO) Ltd, a private company responsible for its day-to- day operation. The shareholding of CADCO is a Partnership between the Horan Airport Trust and seven local authorities in the West and North West region who each have an 82.5% and 17.5% shareholding respectively of the company. The responsibility of the trustees of the Horan Airport Trust is to ensure that any profits generated by the airport are reinvested in the airport with a focus on providing support to the surrounding region.
The Project Ireland West Airport set out to reduce their overall energy requirements across the entire airport. The LED project was the first of many energy efficiency projects they implemented. The Airports most significant direct environmental impacts arise from the electricity, gas and oil consumed. In order to minimise this, management decided to undertake a lighting upgrade.
Through initial discussions with interested bidders, they heard about the government funded SME lighting support scheme. This prompted them to get in touch with SEAI. Through the guidance of SEAI along with the main contractor Niall Tiernan of Tiernan Engineering Ltd and his supplier Ian Bourke of CT electric/Kellihers electrical, the project was planned and delivered.
Lighting upgrades completed?
In total 1,103 light fittings were either replaced or retro fitted to meet the requirements as set out by SEAI.
The upgraded areas included:
- Check-In hall
- Arrivals (both landside and airside)
- Departures lounge
- Security screening
- Duty free
- 2 no. restaurants
- Office blocks
- Car park
- Aircraft apron
- Car hire wash bays
As one of the biggest airports in the country and with over 1 million people passing through the airport annually, we are conscious of the role the airport plays in supporting the environment and our energy consumption is an important aspect of this. We were delighted to partner with SEAI in a major upgrade and refitting of all our existing lighting across the airport facility to LED, which will lead to a 30% reduction in the airport's annual energy usage. Furthermore the airport are committed to pursuing initiatives for further energy savings and environmentally friendly measures into the future.
