Renewable diesel helps Finavia’s Helsinki Airport operations reach net-zero carbon emissions

Photo: Finavia

Airport company Finavia’s Helsinki Airport has achieved net-zero carbon-emissions targets in its own operations and has received an international Airport Carbon Accreditation program’s net-zero certification. 

Neste MY Renewable Diesel™, powering the machinery and emergency-power generators at the Helsinki Airport since 2024, has played a significant role in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.

Finavia aims to reduce the carbon-dioxide emissions of all its airports to net zero by the end of 2025.“Finavia's operations at its 20 airports have been carbon neutral since 2019,” said Henri Hansson, Finavia’s senior vice president of sustainability, technology and safety. “Reaching net-zero targets at Helsinki Airport is the result of long-term and systematic work. The requirements for reaching net-zero level under the ACA program include that carbon-dioxide emissions are reduced by at least 90 percent, residual emissions are neutralized, and that an external party verifies the emissions data and operations. Helsinki Airport is the fifth Finavia airport to receive the net-zero certificate. In 2023, four Lapland airports received the certificate. The use of Neste’s renewable diesel has been central to reducing our emissions.”

With Neste MY Renewable Diesel, produced for the Finnish market from 100 percent waste and residues, Finavia has reduced greenhouse-gas emissions from its machinery and emergency-power generators at the Helsinki Airport by 90 percent on average when emissions over the fuel’s lifecycle are compared with fossil diesel.

At Finavia’s airports, machinery accounts for 80 percent of the company’s fuel use.

This includes, for example, high-powered sweepers and snowplows used to clear runways and for the maintenance of the airport’s apron.

They represent a heavy-machinery segment in which electrification is very difficult due to high power requirements.

Neste’s renewable diesel can be used to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in existing fleet and machinery without additional investments in or modifications to existing equipment.

“Finavia has been a forerunner among airports, systematically reducing emissions from its operations,” said Joni Pihlström, Neste’s vice president of B2B sales, marketing and services.

“I hope that the use of renewable diesel and the impressive results achieved through our long-term collaboration will serve as an encouraging example widely and across industries,” Pihlström added.

In accordance with Finavia’s climate program and in addition to the Lapland and Helsinki airports, the use of Neste MY Renewable Diesel will be extended to all other Finavia airports during 2025.