Data-Driven Method to Study the Impact of Utilizing Electric Ground Power Systems on Airport Electricity Demand Profile

Abstract

Gate electrification provides electricity and preconditioned air to stationary aircraft at airport gates as an alternative to the use of auxiliary power units. This includes a preconditioned air unit (PCA) and a ground power unit (GPU). This study aims to explore the impact of utilizing these units on the electricity demand of airports and analyzes the associated costs for both the cases of purchasing the electricity from a utility following a typical large commercial rate structure, and participating in the wholesale electricity market. The possibility of benefiting from solar energy to supply this electricity demand is also examined. The demand for gate electrification was measured at a gate at Des Moines International Airport in Iowa, U.S.A., and combined with other data including weather conditions and aircraft types to identify significant explanatory variables for electricity demand. This analysis revealed that ambient temperature is the main PCA demand predictor while aircraft type is the main factor driving the GPU demand. A linear regression model was developed to estimate the PCA electricity demand based on the ambient temperature. For the GPU, the typical demand was used based on aircraft type. This analysis shows that gate electrification used across all gates can contribute to up to 87% of the measured peak demand of the airport; the cost of participating in the wholesale market would be 57% less than following the current large commercial rate structure, and the airport can benefit from installing a photovoltaic system if the surplus electricity is utilized.