How Swedavia is working to achieve fossil-free airports
Swedavia is a world leader among airport operators developing and operating fossil-free airports. We work with the transition in several steps. First, we have converted our own airport operations and secondly, we have been a driving force in ensuringe that all permanent or reoccurring operators at our airports transition to fossil-free operations.
Our own airport operations are fossil-free
Swedavia has been fossil-free in all airport operations it carries out since the end of 2020. In other words, all operations for which we have full control of, run on fossil free fuels.
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We have worked to manage our direct emissions (scope 1), for example, emissions from our own vehicles and machinery, auxiliary power and emissions during firefighting exercises.
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We have also worked to manage our indirect emissions (scope 2) from, for example, purchased electricity and heat - emissions that occur at the point of production.
- Carbon dioxide emissions are calculated based on the combustion of fuel, i.e. the part of the life cycle that Swedavia can influence.
Some key measures
in the work to become fossil free
Renewable energy
All energy that heats and cools our airports, as well as the energy that provides light and powers equipment, is from renewable energy sources such as wind and hydro power. Swedavia purchases district heating produced from renewable biofuels, such as wood chips and forest residues.
Auxiliary power
Airports have historically relied on diesel fuel for auxiliary power. After close cooperation with engine manufacturers, diesel has been replaced by HVO100 (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil).
Work equipment and machinery
Swedavia's work equipment and machinery have been replaced with electric machines or machines that can run on renewable fuels.
Vehicles
For many years, Swedavia has been working according to two main strategies to create a fossil-free vehicle fleet: switching to fossil-free fuels and switching to vehicles that can use fossil-free fuels. In renewing the vehicle fleet, we have also prioritised the reduction of environmental emissions, improving energy efficiency and automation. Swedavia's vehicles currently run on fossil-free gas, HVO100 and green electricity.
Firefighting exercises
Swedavia has replaced the fossil fuels previously used in our firefighting exercises (including Jet A-1 and Avgas) with renewable fuels such as RNG, bio LPG, secondary ethanol and HVO100.
RNG (renewable natural gas)
Swedavia purchases RNG produced mainly from food waste. The RNG is used, among other things, in the buses that run between the car park and the terminal and the buses that take passengers between the gates and the aircraft. RNG is also used for snow removal machines.
Bio LPG
Swedavia purchases Bio LPG on a mass balance basis. This means that the supplier ensures that the corresponding amount of Bio LPG is produced and fed into the LPG system. The principle is comparable to the system used for the distribution and purchase of renewable electricity.
Fossil-free airports - includes other operators
By the end of 2025, also other operators became fossil-free in their operations. By this, we mean that all energy used for activities run by permanent or reoccurring companies at our airports, such as ground handling companies selling services to airlines, catering operations and others.
The work has focused on issues such as the increased need for charging infrastructure, fossil-free fuel, and reduced emissions.
Swedavia’s Climate Roadmap to 2050
Swedavia’s climate roadmap outlines how Swedavia contributes to the climate transition. It covers both the transformation of its own airport operations and the joint efforts with airlines, energy companies, suppliers, and authorities. The roadmap shows how measures and collaborations are interconnected and how Swedavia is working step by step to achieve the goal of fossil-free operations by 2050.
Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA)
Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) is owned and managed by the international industry association ACI Europe and is a voluntary, globally recognised certification scheme for the reduction of fossil carbon emissions in the aviation industry around the world.
In 2024, Göteborg Landvetter Airport, Malmö Airport, Arlanda Airport, and Ronneby Airport were certified at the new highest level, ACA 5. In 2025, Visby Airport, Åre Östersund Airport, and Kiruna Airport were also certified at the same level. This certification means that the airports must work to ensure that the entire value chain, including all procured goods and services, achieves net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest. This entails having an active collaborations and a plan with the stakeholders who account for a significant proportion of the airport's total emissions. The ambition is for all of Swedavia’s airports to achieve the highest level of certification before the end of 2026.
