This Airport Generates Its Own Power To Avoid A Blackout Like London Heathrow’s


The North Hyde substation fire in Hayes, London, on March 20th caused a power failure at London Heathrow Airport

which left 200,000 passengers stranded, along with canceling more than 1000 flights. Although the cause of the fire remains under investigation, global airports are now reviewing their power grid dependencies because of extreme weather disruptions and potential malicious activities that could interact with their declining infrastructure systems.

But what is the most advanced airport in the world in this field? Pittsburgh International Airport

(PIT) operates the most innovative microgrid system in the industry by merging natural gas power generation with solar energy to achieve independent electricity operations.

The Growing Vulnerability Of Airport Power Systems

The apron and ATC tower at Hartsfield-Jackston Atlanta International airport.

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

Power outages create economic damage and safety hazards that impact the worldwide aviation system. The power outage at Heathrow Airport demonstrated it was not an isolated occurrence.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), from 2015 to 2022, there were 321 five-minute power outages at 24 US airports. NOAA records show that billion-dollar weather events rose from five incidents in 2000 to 28 incidents in 2023.

Just to name a few examples:

  • A major outage in 2017 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport led to about 1,200 flight cancelations and cost Delta Air Lines approximately $50 million, according to ABC News.
  • The Los Angeles Times reported that a power outage lasting one hour at Los Angeles International Airport in February 2023 resulted in security checkpoints halting operations and flight delays, disabled escalators, and trapped passengers inside elevators.
  • Again, in February 2023, the PG&E substation fire resulted in two hours of power outage that forced Oakland International Airport to close and affected the electricity supply to 50,000 nearby residents for an extended time, according to the Associated Press.
  • SFGATE reported that a power outage disrupted operations at San Francisco International Airport around 21:00 in June 2023, but power was fully restored during the same night.
  • According to Fortune, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport experienced a power outage in February 2025, which disrupted more than 150 scheduled flights.
  • In February 2024, an attempted copper wire theft caused a temporary power outage at Harry Reid International Airport, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

What methods do airport authorities utilize to tackle these problems? Emergency plans combined with infrastructure investments allow them to handle power outages for safety and operational continuity.

Response effectiveness relies on continuous training of staff members and functional coordination between their teams, utility service providers, and emergency response organizations. Airports modify their operations by rerouting flights and stopping all airport activities.

Failure-dependent systems access backup power through both backup generators and uninterruptible power supplies, as well as microgrids.

Pittsburgh’s Revolutionary Microgrid Solution

A rendering of the new main terminal

Photo: Pittsburgh International Airport

According to Microgrid Knowledge, the path to energy independence at Pittsburgh International Airport started after Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport experienced the aforementioned major power outage in late 2017.

The flight disruptions that followed the power outage at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport caused Delta Air Lines to lose tens of millions of dollars, which led the Pittsburgh airport authority to examine microgrid technology.

As Marcelluss Drilling News reported, the airport, situated on Marcellus Shale natural gas deposits, invited proposals to construct a microgrid through a no-cost operation and design and construction agreement.

According to the Allegheny County Airport Authority, the system became operational in July 2021 with a total energy output of more than 20 Megawatts.

Pittsburgh airport microgrid by numbers (according to Burns Engineering)

Metric

Value

Total power generation

23 Megawatts

Annual cost savings

$1.5 million

Carbon emission reduction per year

6 million pounds

Airport Industry News reported that, on March 4th, the microgrid system functioned as an essential backup when persistent substation fires outside the airport caused the temporary loss of the main power supply. Pittsburgh simply disconnected those feeds to prevent problems from affecting its microgrid and continued operating without interruption.

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A World First: The Benefits Of Pittsburgh International’s Microgrid

PIT is seeing notable advantages a year on.

Understanding Microgrid Technology For Airports

Solar panels and a Southwest aircraft overhead at Denver International Airport.

Photo: Denver International Airport

According to BC Diesel Generators, airports function through regional power grids which use diesel generators as emergency backup systems.

Traditional backup systems for airports

present multiple drawbacks
because they fail to power all systems and require refueling during extended outages and lack long-term operation capabilities.

The US Department of Energy explains that a microgrid is an independent, localized power system capable of operating separately from the main electrical grid.

The system functions through central control units, which oversee multiple power generation facilities linked with storage devices for automatic distribution management.

Traditional Backup vs. Microgrid Systems

Feature

Traditional Backup

Microgrid System

Power source

Typically, diesel generators

Multiple sources (natural gas, solar, etc.)

Coverage

Critical systems only

Complete airport operations

Operation duration

Limited by fuel supply

Indefinite with renewable components

Carbon footprint

High emissions

Can incorporate renewable energy

Cost

Emergency use only

Daily operational integration

The innovative aspect of Pittsburgh’s system emerges from its combination of different power sources. Natural gas generators maintain a dependable base power supply at the airport alongside solar array systems that help reduce its carbon emissions.

The system generates surplus power, which simultaneously enhances security and generates revenue by selling electricity to the power grid.

Benefits Of Airport Energy Self-Sufficiency

Delta Air Lines aircraft at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ATL shutterstock_1606406644
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

The power backup approach implemented by Pittsburgh generates extensive advantages that benefit both airport operations and airline services and traveling passengers. The system enables the avoidance of tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue, recovery expenses, compensation claims, and major outage costs. Airports can achieve environmental sustainability through renewable energy installations of solar and wind components.

According to Evans, microgrids also operate as financial stabilizers during blackouts by controlling costs to the extent of $1 million per hour and optimizing total energy utilization. Furthermore, airport facility operational systems stay active during blackouts because of continuous power supply, thus improving both security and service quality and reducing flight disruptions.

Microgrids serve as a solution for airport greenhouse gas reductions through their implementation of solar and wind power systems instead of fossil fuels. Smart systems, together with storage capabilities, enable maximum energy efficiency by decreasing operational waste and implementing optimal operating procedures.

As The Economics Times reported, the deployment of different backup power sources instead of diesel generators minimizes emissions. Microgrids during power outages increase electrical grid resilience, while their digital tools help forecast demand and manage energy effectively.

Related


How Pittsburgh International Airport Is Becoming More Attractive To Airlines

With construction of the new central terminal set to finish this year, will PIT attract more carriers in the coming years?

Leading Airports Embracing Energy Independence

Air Traffic Control Tower at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport JFK shutterstock_2374347113

Photo: billlinphotos | Shutterstock

Pittsburgh International stands as one of the few airports with complete energy independence, yet other major airports adopt different methods to achieve similar goals based on their individual needs and resources.

Denver International Airport operates a comprehensive energy resilience system among the busiest airports in the United States. According to Yahoo News, two electric substations dedicated to the airport provide enough power to operate the entire facility. The facility operates with backup generators in addition to its existing traditional backup systems and solar-powered battery arrays.

According to Alpha Struxure, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York is integrating energy resilience into its renovation project, which costs $19 billion, by building a solar power system with storage banks for backup purposes as part of its upcoming Terminal 1 construction.

Airport

Technology in case of a power outage emergency

Pittsburgh International

Microgrid (natural gas + solar)

Denver International

Diesel generators + Solar + battery backup

JFK International

Diesel generators [Solar (planned) + battery (planned)]

San Diego International

Diesel generators + Solar + battery backup (mostly for HVAC systems)

Challenges And Future Directions

ATC tower at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ATL shutterstock_1676976958

Photo: Darryl Brooks | Shutterstock

According to Kimley-Horn, using solar power as the main power source in a microgrid presents difficulties for airport operations.

Solar energy’s daytime power availability requires an airport to install a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with its microgrid to optimize power supply and demand alignment. Airports face difficulties implementing microgrids because most equipment components, especially battery systems, originate from overseas manufacturers.

Airport owners and designers find it challenging to procure microgrid materials because they must comply with Buy America, Build America, and Inflation Reduction Act requirements.

The availability of incentive funding through legislative requirements affects project cost-effectiveness because these requirements must be met. Airport partnerships with multiple suppliers who place advance orders while working with local manufacturers can overcome the challenges of microgrid material sourcing. Going forward, airports will achieve sustainability by implementing smart technologies, expanding renewable energy sources, and improving energy storage methods.

The development of customized solutions will require collaboration between airports and both utility companies and technology providers. Modern technological progress, together with escalating climate challenges, has established various patterns that define the transformation of airport self-generated energy systems. The growing electrification of ground vehicles, along with shuttles and aircraft, has both technical hurdles and potential benefits for self-generation systems.

According to Ignite Network Plus, some airports are also exploring hydrogen solutions as part of their decarbonization efforts as they receive growing governmental backing for infrastructural safety.

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