Riyadh Airports Company (RAC), which manages and operates King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) in Riyadh, and the global leader in low-carbon energy and services, ENGIE, launched the Energy Efficiency project at KKIA to identify and develop cost-effective and smart energy conservation measures, identifying the optimal mix of clean energy sources. The project will provide the best solutions to reduce energy demand and costs, ensure reliable supply through clean and renewable energy sources.

The project covers all passenger terminals including the private aviation terminals, the Airport’s industrial zone, support facilities, water transfer and treatment plants, substations, airfield and district cooling plants. ENGIE will perform an energy audit and consultancy work to identify and develop energy-saving measures that will reduce the facility’s energy use, cost of operation and maintenance.

The project comes as part of RAC’s efforts to enhance energy efficiency at KKIA as per the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO).

RAC’s CEO, Eng. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Maghlouth said “Making our infrastructure more energy efficient is a significant milestone and a testament to the determination of our vision to transform KKIA into a world-class operation. We are partnering with a global low-carbon energy provider to achieve our vision and contribute positively to the environment and keep it safe for future generations.”

The energy efficiency audit includes improving energy efficiency on the supply and demand side, optimizing the distribution network, implementing cost efficiency measures through internal tariffs and billing structures, enhancing building energy management systems and pumping stations and water networks.

In addition to the energy audit, ENGIE provides consultation services for billing management in order to recommend a model for cost recovery and define an optimal billing management approach based directly on system requirements. ENGIE will then assess the optimal investment strategy for temporary clean energy generators as well as on-site renewable energy sources to complement grid supply in line with the Kingdom’s energy transition.

Building on ENGIE’s experience in energy management systems in international airports, and in light of Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation strategy, ENGIE will analyze and design reliable and scalable system architecture to monitor and report energy and water consumption to allow for more optimal resource management from a centralized command and control center. Centralized building energy management systems will allow for consistent and accurate monitoring, more optimal resource management as well as enhanced data security.

Turki Al Shehri, CEO of ENGIE in Saudi Arabia commented “The Riyadh Airport project is key to enabling the Kingdom to house a sustainable and energy-efficient world-class international airport at the heart of Saudi Arabia. Our work ensures that the airport facilities are optimally designed and will provide long-term value to the hundreds of thousands of passengers that will enter the Kingdom as it continues to develop. ENGIE is honored to be a long-term positive energy partner to Saudi Arabia and to ensure that our international expertise is utilized locally, adding tangible value to the Kingdom.”