Summary - Airport Electrification UK 2026. Online registration by Cvent

As UK airports prepare for future growth, decarbonising ground operations is becoming just as urgent as reducing emissions in the air. While sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and aircraft efficiency remain central to the aviation sector’s net-zero ambitions, an equally immediate and impactful opportunity lies in the electrification of airport infrastructure and operations.

From ground support equipment (GSE) to terminal energy systems, airside logistics, and landside transport, electrification offers a practical pathway to reduce emissions rapidly, lower long-term operating costs, and strengthen the resilience of the UK’s air transport infrastructure.

Across the country, airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol, and Newcastle are taking early action. Initiatives underway include the adoption of electric GSE fleets, deployment of solar generation and battery storage systems, introduction of electric shuttle buses, expansion of EV charging networks, and the retrofitting of terminals to improve energy efficiency. However, scaling these efforts at the national level will require coordinated investment, regulatory clarity, smart grid integration, and collaboration between airports, government, utilities, technology providers, and investors.

To drive this transformation, Global Transmission Report is pleased to announce the launch of Airport Electrification UK, taking place on March 26, 2026, at Park Plaza London Riverbank. This one-day conference builds on the success of the Airport Electrification series in the US, Australia, and the EU, and will focus on practical strategies to decarbonise airport operations and infrastructure while supporting sustainable growth in line with the UK’s Jet Zero Strategy and wider climate goals.

The conference will:

Showcase electrification projects and innovations at UK airports aligned with national and local net-zero targets
Explore strategies for decarbonising infrastructure – GSE, terminals, airside and landside – while enabling growth
Position electrification as a critical complement to SAF in a whole-of-system net zero strategy
Address regulatory, technical, and financial barriers to electrifying operations and infrastructure
Highlight opportunities for public-private partnerships

This event will bring together key stakeholders to discuss practical solutions, share knowledge, and identify opportunities, ensuring that the decarbonisation of air transport starts from the ground up.