Carbon Removal at Airports (2024)
Chapter: 7 Tools
CHAPTER 7
Tools
7.1 Technical Tool
The technical tool was developed to provide a starting point for all airports in evaluating potential CDR pathways. The information in this guide acts as more detailed information to supplement the high-level summary of types of pathways shown in the tool that could be applicable for each airport. The data used in the tool are from the research contained in the guide as well as publicly available data like the cost of energy by location, geographic location of each airport, and land-use analysis.
Due to the complexity of the land-use pathways, the land-use analysis used the data from Colorado State University’s Soil Carbon Solutions Center COMET planner. This online tool helps evaluate potential carbon sequestration and GHG reductions for land-use conservation practices. The dataset was applied to a list of all National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) airports in the United States and mapped against each airport’s land to give potential carbon-removal opportunities by land-use type.
The tool, which includes detailed instructions, was developed to be easy to use by airport operators, stakeholders, potential teaming partners, and consultants. The tool requires only one input—the three-letter airport identifier. Once the identifier is entered, the corresponding airport will receive a list of applicable land-use and technologically based CDR measures. Additional inputs such as localized energy costs are optional if a user has refined data to use.
The outputs vary somewhat depending on the available information but typically include cost, carbon removal, TRL, and relative permanence, among other factors that may be specific to the CDR pathway.
The technical tool can be accessed only via a business license for Microsoft 365; the application will not work for a personal Microsoft account. Airport administrators, or those with administrative control, need to follow the instructions in Appendix D (the instructions also can be found in the technical tool package with an instructional video).
7.2 Communication Toolkit
The communication toolkit, provided in Appendix E, is a suite of communication resources that build off the guide and the technical tool. While the guide describes the importance of stakeholder involvement, project panel discussions and industry interviews confirmed that educational materials would be one of the most beneficial outputs of this ACRP project.
The communication toolkit provides templates and guidelines for evaluating and discussing CDR with various airport stakeholders. Information includes recommendations for initiating
stakeholder processes, as well as materials for communicating with leadership, local agencies and organizations, and the public.
The communication toolkit focuses on education, communication, and collaboration through the following materials:
- Public-meeting materials
- Presentation materials
- Media communication tools
- Letter templates
- Questions to use for review of CDR technologies
Each material is contained within the file package and is easily updatable with airport logos to modify for each airport’s needs.
