On December 5th, YVR joined the Honourable Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s former Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery, and Innovation, as well as BC Innovation Commissioner (and former YVR Board Director) Gerri Sinclair at the airport to announce an exciting new partnership: the Integrated Marketplace Renewal Initiative (IMI).
This $11.5 million program investment from the Government of BC will support our efforts to become net zero by 2030 and the world’s greenest airport, a commitment in which we’ve invested $135 million over the next ten years to support these efforts.
This exciting new initiative will be lead through our Innovation Hub, working closely with our airside and ground handling community. It will identify specific business needs and test made-in-B.C. clean technology solutions. This includes alternative fuel options and electrification of all applicable aspects of our operations.
Already, over 50% of licensed ground-handling vehicles at YVR are electric, and we have installed 94 airside charging stations for aircraft support vehicles. This is in addition to ground power units at many of our aircraft loading bridges which enable crews to shut down aircraft engines and plug into B.C.’s clean electricity. We are also proud to be the first airport in Canada to achieve the highest level of Airport Carbon Accreditation (4+ Transition). Across our entire organization, YVR is working to embed sustainability and climate action on our path towards net zero by 2030.
Beyond our direct operations, we see this connection between sustainability and innovation with YVR’s Digital Twin and many other initiatives and partnerships underway.
Our Digital Twin platform is a virtual, real-time representation of the terminal and airfield located on Sea Island, and has the potential to allow us to monitor aircraft movement and activity on our airfield to reduce GHG emissions.
In September, we also signed a commitment with two Cascadia Corridor airports (Seattle Tacoma, and Portland) to collaborate on decarbonizing aviation, including ground support equipment and the development of sustainable aviation fuel.
However, there are always opportunities to do more. YVR exists to serve our community and local economy. We believe that we can make more of an impact by working together, and through the IMI, we look forward to being a key partner in bringing together a strong alliance of providers and buyers at the airport to advance and streamline sustainable innovation across the province.
Stay tuned for more information as we continue to collaborate with the Government of BC to set-up the IMI and continue to identify new opportunities for climate action on our path towards becoming the greenest airport in the world.