ITW GSE

Q: What is ITW’s decarbonisation strategy to reduce its carbon footprint as the aviation industry takes on the path to making net zero possible?  

ITW GSE wants to give the aviation industry the cleanest, most reliable, and most cost-effective GSE system available. In 2017, ITW GSE worked with Schiphol Airport to test the 100% battery-powered eGPU.

The Schiphol trial was a huge success, and ITW GSE was the first to introduce the mass-produced, battery-powered eGPU to the global aviation industry in 2018. Today, the product line includes 7400 eGPUs with ratings ranging from 28 VDC for turboprop aircraft to 90 kVA for narrow body aircraft and 180 kVA for wide-body aircraft. This makes ITW GSE a global leader in the eGPU market. An eGPU is the fastest shortcut to a greener and healthier environment. Exchanging only ONE diesel GPU with an eGPU reduces CO2 emissions by 90% and NOx by 95%. Actually, you can save 110,000 lbs of CO2 emissions per year. (Numbers are valid for the 90 kVA)

Photo above: ITW GSE’s eGPU family

Besides the battery-powered 7400 eGPU, ITW GSE has for decades offered both fixed and mobile line powered solutions. We can power and cool any aircraft, from commercial jets to narrow- or wide-body aircraft. Our range includes solid-state 28 VDC, 30-180 kVA ground power units (mobile, fixed, and bridge-mounted), and PCAs with the airflow of 150 and 210 kg/min respectively, for narrow and widebody aircraft (mobile, fixed, and bridge-mounted). Also, we supply a multitude of cables, hoses, and hose management systems for all aircraft types.

GPUs and PCAs are some of the most critical components for servicing parked aircraft. The GPU is connected by the ground crew when the aircraft arrives at the gate and provides electrical power, e.g., to light up the cabin, power up the aircraft electronics, and enable the pilot to enter data in the cockpit prior to takeoff, etc. The PCAs cool the aircraft while parked at the gate, supplying a pleasant cabin temperature for the crew and passengers. The use of GPUs and PCAs allows the pilot to shut down the Aircraft APU (Auxiliary Power Unit), which eliminates the use of diesel engine powered GPUs/PCAs, reducing CO2 and NOx emissions. 

Q: In your opinion, which Southeast Asian Hub Airports have the edge in airport sustainability? What are the approaches these airports take to reduce GSE emissions? 

In recent years, a number of Southeast Asian airports have installed passenger boarding bridge (PBB)-mounted GPUs and PCAs. These include Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, etc. 

Thailand Bangkok Suvarnabumi Airport is a good example of implementing a green approach when it comes to GPUs and PCAs. In the most recently constructed satellite terminal, all gates are equipped with state-of-the-art PBB-mounted GPUs, PCAs, and a motorized hose handling system. This provides the airlines with a green solution at the gate to reduce emissions in the airport. 

Q: What are some of the projects that ITW has completed in Asia and has planned for in 2023? What role does ITW play to help airports in Asia accelerate their strategy to reduce carbon footprint? 

ITW GSE has recently supplied or will soon be supplying our clean, reliable, and cost-efficient ground support equipment to a number of airports in Asia, including Bangalore Airport, Hong Kong Airport, Nanchang Airport, Quanzhou Airport, Clark Airport, Songshan Airport, Kaoshiong Airport, Bangkok Suvarnabumi Airport, etc. 

Installation photo from Bangkok Suvarnabumi Airport for the supply of 72 x ITW GSE 400 Hz Power Coils and 36 x ITW GSE PCA 210. 

An eGPU is the fastest short-cut to a greener, zero-emission, and zero-noise environment. And the numbers are clear. Exchanging only ONE diesel GPU with an eGPU reduces CO2 emissions by 90% and NOX by 95%. Actually, you can save approximately 55,000 kg CO2 emissions per year with only 5.5 hours of operation a day (numbers are valid for the 90 kVA). This equals the yearly emissions of 30 average cars, and we are always able to provide exact emission savings based on your application and requirements.

Apart from being emission-free, eGPUs are also much more silent than diesel GPUs. This improves the working environment for the operating staff and makes it a pleasure for both employees and boarding passengers, who may be used to noisy and polluting diesel-driven GPUs. In some cases, we have even had operators wonder whether the eGPU is working at all because it is so silent. As a result, ITW GSE is proud to have supplied a significant number of battery-powered eGPUs to airlines and operators in China, Japan, and Thailand to replace traditional diesel engine-powered GPUs in order to accelerate their goal of lowering carbon footprint.

ITW GSE offers a lot more than power, air, cables, and hoses to parked aircraft, setting new standards for new technologies and giving airports the opportunity to not only optimize PCA airflow but also eliminate emissions and reduce infrastructure costs at the gate. 

Q: After 2 years of industry change, airport advancement, and digital acceleration, what are some of the challenges airports in Asia are facing now and how are they keeping up with their European counterparts? 

The Asian aviation industry has definitely taken a hit from COVID. The recovery pace is slower than in Europe, but it is on the right track and will grow in line with its enormous potential.

The acceptance of green products such as Li-On Battery-Powered eGSE is not yet as widespread in Asia as it is in Europe, largely due to the fact that there is limited electrical infrastructure at the airside. Also, there is a lack of charging standards in eGSE. Having said that, we are starting to see growing interest from many stakeholder groups in the airport, e.g., airlines, ground handlers, airports, etc., and we are engaging in discussions about the implementation of greener and more sustainable solutions. This includes Li-On Battery Powered eGSE, implementation of PBB-mounted GPU/PCA, adopting smarter gate solutions by using the electrical infrastructure more intelligently, etc., all of which will positively affect both the total cost of ownership and the environment. 

As we continue to focus on supporting sustainable aviation growth while reducing carbon emissions, we are encouraged to see airports begin to consider more intelligent systems that can help them accelerate their efforts to electrify their ramp operations. ITW GSE takes a holistic view of the complete gate configuration and product life. It makes sense to focus on the total cost of ownership of operating a gate, including ground support equipment, rather than on each individual product. At the end of the day, both airports, airlines, and ground handling companies aim to benefit from and maximize their infrastructure while integrating green solutions such as electrifying equipment.