Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), Resilient Microgrid Project Support

Burns consulted Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA) on development of a first-of-its-kind microgrid project, guiding Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) throughout the design-build process.

The first airport microgrid project in the United States, ACAA partnered with a development team led by the local gas utility to drill natural gas wells on the airport’s property, build five gas-fueled generators, install a 7,800-panel solar array, and connect the power sources to make PIT a fully resilient facility. The 23-Megawatt (MW) microgrid is capable of producing more heat and electricity capacity than the airport needs for daily operations.

Peoples Natural Gas received a 20-year contract to build, maintain and operate the microgrid — all with no cost obligations to the authority or the airport.

Since the microgrid reached full operational status in 2021, ACAA has saved an estimated $1 million per year in avoided utility costs. The project is reducing 6 million pounds of annual carbon emissions.

ACAA entrusted Burns as the owner representative to ensure the project would achieve financial returns and deliver technical capabilities as proposed by the development team.

Project recognition includes receiving Airports Council International’s prestigious Environmental Achievement Innovation Award.

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Client

Allegheny County Airport Authority

Industry

Aviation

Expertise

District Energy Systems

Energy + Carbon Reduction

Resilient Power + Microgrids

Project Lead