International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

One of the biggest challenges of our century is climate change. The aviation industry is a major contributor to global carbon emissions, and airports are responsible for a significant portion of this impact. To reduce the carbon footprint of airports, it is necessary to implement energy efficiency measures that can help reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This study analyzes the impact of the use of photovoltaic panels (PV) and the replacement of boiler burners with oil, on energy efficiency and the reduction of carbon emissions at the airport of Tirana. The electricity produced by these panels is used to power airport buildings, lighting systems and other infrastructure, reducing the need for traditional energy sources.
The reviewed period covers the year 2023, because during this year important investments were made with the installation of photovoltaic panels and the replacement of oil boiler burners with LPG burner, in addition to the improvement of the lighting system and the replacement of diesel vehicles with electric vehicles. Energy consumption data is used to calculate the carbon footprint and key energy performance indicators. The results showed that the use of photovoltaic panels and the change of burners of oil boilers brought a significant reduction of the carbon footprint and a significant economic benefit.

Despite the efforts of the world community to limit global warming by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions emitted by societies, studies show that the levels continue to rise, and this hides a number of consequences for people’s lives. The European Union, with its 8% share of generated global emissions, is not among the leaders in emitting harmful greenhouse gases, but it is among the leaders in pursuing a systematic and strict policy of climate neutrality. A European Climate Act for a green transition was introduced in 2021, setting a binding target for EU countries of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with an intermediate target of 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The purpose of this report is to follow the policy of the Union, the state and trends in the field of energy from renewable sources and energy efficiency and the participation of Bulgaria in the progress towards achieving the set goals.