Project ALIGHT
The ALIGHT (Copenhagen Airport: A Lighthouse for the introduction of sustainable aviation solutions for the future) project ran from 2020 to 2025, bringing together 17 European partners to develop and demonstrate sustainable aviation solutions. ALIGHT was an EU-funded Smart Airport project, launched to develop a model of a sustainable airport of the future. The project established Copenhagen Airport as a Lighthouse to showcase zero-emission aviation infrastructure with fellow airports in Rome, Vilnius and Warsaw looking to replicate best practice solutions.
RSB provided important guidance on the sustainability of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the project. As part of this project, RSB also promoted the role of airports in the growing SAF economy through the Sustainable Airports Platform.
ALIGHT Sustainable Aviation Toolbox
The ALIGHT Sustainable Aviation Toolbox provides airport operators, policymakers, and aviation stakeholders with over 30 practical tools organised across 11 critical topic areas addressing airport decarbonisation and sustainable operations.
Topics include Airport Buildings energy performance, Energy Management Systems implementation, Aircraft Stand electrification, Ground Support Equipment fleet transition, Solar Panels integration, Energy Storage deployment, Parking and Transportation emissions reduction, SAF Supply Chain management, Local Air Quality monitoring, Greenhouse Effect mitigation, and SAF Compliance procedures.
Each topic area provides comprehensive resources including process guidance, stakeholder checklists, assessment tools, planning frameworks, best practice handbooks, and implementation guidelines developed through real-world demonstration at four European airports.
The digital platform delivers actionable implementation guidance enabling airports to advance zero-emission aviation goals efficiently. Resources address stakeholder engagement, feasibility assessment, technology selection, regulatory compliance, and operational integration—translating research findings into practical frameworks airport operators can immediately apply.
Tools reflect collective learning from multiple airport contexts, ensuring applicability across different operational scales, regulatory environments, and infrastructure configurations. The platform provides open access, enabling airports worldwide to benefit from ALIGHT project expertise.
Project details
Looking Forward
.
The ALIGHT project concluded in 2025, but the toolbox continues serving as a living resource for aviation decarbonisation. As airports worldwide advance zero-emission aviation goals, the tools provide tested frameworks accelerating implementation.
A platform model that translates collaborative research into accessible digital resources provides a template for future projects. Demonstrating research impact through practical tools strengthens the case for continued investment in aviation sustainability research.
As technologies advance and operational experience grows, the toolbox approach enables updating resources to reflect latest developments, ensuring continued relevance for airport operators navigating the sustainable aviation transition.
.
