The power outage that crippled London-Heathrow on Friday was not an isolated incident for the global airline industry, except for the scale of flight disruptions, which was unprecedented. Ask aviation experts and they’ll tell you that it’s more than just an operational mishap but a warning for the entire airline industry.
A question of backup
International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general Willie Walsh voiced the questions now on everyone’s mind. “First, how is it that critical infrastructure, of national and global importance, is totally dependent on a single power source without an alternative? If that is the case, as it seems, then it is a clear planning failure by the airport.”
Heathrow is the UK’s largest hub, handling over 1,300 flights a day. For comparison, Mumbai airport handles about 950 flights a day. Heathrow had to shut down after a fire at the North Hyde substation, located about 1.5 miles north of the airport, caused a “significant power outage”. A Heathrow spokesperson said “backup systems have been working as they should but they are not sized to run the entire airport”.
Can such an incident occur at any airport in the world or was it merely a result of Heathrow’s legacy infrastructure? Experts said a substation fire may not be a risk unique to Heathrow, but it exposes the pitfalls of relying on a single external power source without sufficient backup systems or onsite supply in the form of solar, wind, or diesel generators, etc. Aviation norms ensure critical units like air traffic control towers, runway lighting, etc, are typically fed by uninterruptible power supply (UPS). The problem is with nonessential operations, the kind that involves operations at passenger terminals.
Where Indian airports stand
Mumbai airport, India’s second largest airport with its two passenger terminals and one cargo terminal, consumes 26.9 MW power a day. “We receive power through two independent, redundant (back up) sources. In the event of a failure at one source, the other can seamlessly take over 100% of the power load to ensure operational continuity. Each terminal gets electricity from more than one power station,” said a Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) spokesperson.
There are multiple pathways to deliver power to each terminal. “The system is designed to handle not just one failure, but two back-to-back failures without stopping operations. Both the terminals and the airfield have their own diesel generators, with a total capacity of 30 MW. These get activated in the case of a rare, major failure,” the official said. Mumbai airport runs on 100% renewable energy, 5% comes from on-site solar generation and 95% from hydro and wind energy. Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) said it uses a highly resilient and redundant power infrastructure for uninterrupted operations. “BLR airport receives power from Begur substation, which gets power through four independent supply lines from different substations,” said Hari Marar, MD and CEO, BIAL. “BIAL has also installed a separate transformer at the Begur substation dedicated for airport operations, minimising the risk of disruptions and also integrated on-site solar power generation and gone for tieups with off-site external renewable energy suppliers, ensuring a steady supply of green power,” he added.
Pressure to make green break
Unlike the 16-year old Bengaluru airport, many major airports rely on infrastructure designed long before modern digital systems and sustainability requirements became key concerns. While airports have kept upgrading facilities, many remain dependent on outdated power grids, centralised energy supply, and legacy IT systems that can be difficult to overhaul. Heathrow, for instance, opened in 1946 and expanded incrementally. Its electrical systems reflect a patchwork of upgrades rather than a fully modernised design, said an aviation expert.
Most major hubs and airports of the world have started moving towards 2050 net-zero carbon emission goals (India’s net-zero target is set for 2070). In the coming decades, the demand for electricity at airports will see a steep rise as it powers everything from vehicles to aircraft. The move towards sustainable energy will happen even as terminal buildings and runways handle ever-increasing volumes of passengers and flights. Airports have begun preparing for this and “electrical resilience” has become a critical aspect of operations in recent years.
How to avoid hiccups
All the 40 airports surveyed in a US study were found to be planning for or completing electrical infrastructure projects aimed at increasing their power resilience. These include removing overhead routes for an airport’s main feeder lines and taking those underground, and upgrading infrastructure to eliminate single points of failure. The latter is exactly the kind of upgrade that would prevent a Heathrow-like crisis.
One of the most promising solutions — which began to find takers starting in the early 2000s — is the adoption of microgrids. These are localised grids that can operate independently or in tandem with the main grid, offering a self-sustained power supply. Microgrids can integrate renewable energy sources like solar and wind. Through these, and along with battery storage and backup generators, airports can reduce their reliance on external power sources. As airports move towards an increasingly electrified future, ensuring power reliability is no longer optional. Heathrow’s disruption should not just be another unfortunate event in aviation history — it should be a turning point.