London Gatwick Slashes Carbon Emissions by 90% with Green Fuel Switch
London Gatwick Airport has made a massive leap in the fight against climate change by swapping out diesel for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). This game-changing biofuel cut carbon emissions from its diesel fleet by a staggering 90%, saving over 950 tonnes of CO2 every year.
All Engines Go Green: 300 Vehicles Now Run on Plant-Based Fuel
Gatwick’s 300-strong diesel vehicle fleet, which makes up 85% of its total fleet, now runs entirely on HVO. This includes vital fire engines, airside operations vehicles, and snow ploughs. Despite the switch, there’s zero drop in performance — fire engines still fire up and respond to emergencies within three minutes, keeping safety front and centre.
Big Boost for Sustainability Goals
Steve Kelso, Head of Engineering at Gatwick, hailed the move as a “significant milestone” in the airport’s green journey. He said, “This underscores our commitment to reducing emissions and hitting net zero for our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030.”
The fuel switch is just one part of Gatwick’s sweeping “Decade of Change” plan. This policy promises to replace all vehicles with electric ones as they retire, makes room for on-site solar power, and sources 100% renewable electricity.
Flying Towards Zero: Massive Green Investments Underway
Gatwick fast-tracked its net zero target to 2030, ten years ahead of schedule. The airport is pouring £250 million into eco-upgrades, replacing old vehicles, boilers, and refrigerants with low-carbon tech.
The airport isn’t stopping there. It’s tackling Scope 3 emissions too — the biggest contributor to its carbon footprint — by teaming up with airlines to push the UK’s Jet Zero strategy and Sustainable Aviation commitment aiming for net zero flights by 2050.
Recognised Carbon Leader
Gatwick’s green efforts earned it Level 4+ ‘Transition’ in the Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme, cementing its role as a pioneer in sustainable airport operations.
With plans to open its Northern Runway to ease delays and boost resilience, London Gatwick is proving that going green doesn’t slow down growth — it powers the future.
