The Problem

Airports Are Electrifying Fast — and Paying the Price

Modern airports are among the most complex electrical environments in commercial infrastructure. Baggage handling systems with hundreds of VFD-driven motors, solid-state frequency converters at every gate, terminal HVAC, runway lighting, and the accelerating shift to electric ground support equipment — all generating harmonic distortion that compounds across a massive distribution network.

Flight bank operations create dramatic load swings as terminals surge from idle to full capacity within minutes. The result: power factors below 0.85, demand spikes that trigger ratchet charges lasting months, and harmonic levels that degrade sensitive navigation and security equipment.

$2.0M
Typical annual savings for a major hub airport — 10.8% electricity reduction

What Causes It

A Perfect Storm of Non-Linear Loads

Baggage handling VFDs generate 25–40% current THD. Solid-state frequency converters (SSFCs) at gates convert 50/60 Hz to 400 Hz for aircraft systems — each a significant harmonic source. Electric ground support equipment charging adds rectifier harmonics.

The electrification challenge ahead + Read more− Close

Airport electrification is accelerating. Denver International projects 235 MW by 2050 — a 5x increase. Every electric bus, ground power unit, and preconditioned air system adds non-linear load. Without proactive power quality management, airports face costly infrastructure upgrades for both capacity and harmonic mitigation. Managing power quality now defers or eliminates transformer and switchgear upgrades as electrification scales.

The Solution

How HarmoniQ Works

HarmoniQ’s patented narrowband tuning technology dynamically maintains clean power across airport distribution networks. Sampling 20,000 times per second, the system adapts in real time to flight bank surges and eGSE charging cycles.

Tier 1
HarmoniQ Filter

Eliminates harmonics to below 3% THD — meeting stringent IEEE 519 limits for airport installations. Prevents resonance and protects transformer insulation from harmonic heating.

HarmoniQ Filter
Tier 2
HarmoniQ Alpha

Stabilises voltage during jet bridge operations, baggage system start-ups, and ground power switching. Protects navigation aids, FIDS displays, and security screening equipment.

HarmoniQ Alpha
Tier 3
HarmoniQ Booster

Corrects power factor to 0.98+, managing rapid PF variations from flight bank load swings and eGSE charging. Frees transformer capacity for electrification growth.

HarmoniQ Booster

The Impact

What This Means for Your Airport
Savings SnapshotMajor hub airport — 35M passengers, 120M kWh/year, $18.3M annual cost
MetricBeforeAfter HarmoniQImprovement
Power factor0.780.98++25.6%
Electricity consumption120M kWh107M kWh−10.8%
Annual electricity cost$18,300,000$16,300,000−$1,980,000
Want to know the full picture?

Every facility is different. Our engineers will model the exact savings, deployment costs, and timeline for your specific site — get in touch for a free, no-obligation assessment.

Beyond the Bill

Infrastructure Resilience & Carbon Accreditation

Clean power extends the life of baggage handling motors, security equipment, and transformers. It also protects sensitive navigation and communication systems that aviation safety depends on.

A 10.8% electricity reduction delivers 2,600–3,100 tonnes of CO₂e per year — a significant contribution to ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation.

Zero disruption
HarmoniQ installs during normal airport operations. No terminal shutdowns, no passenger impact. Software-verifiable impact from day one.

How It Works

Three Steps. Zero Disruption.
1
→
Assess
Our engineers audit your electrical network and identify exactly where energy is being wasted.
2
→
Install
HarmoniQ deploys in parallel at your switchboard — no shutdowns, no disruption, no risk.
3
→
Save
Savings start from day one, verified in real time through our live monitoring portal.

Common Misconceptions

What We Hear — and the Reality
Myth
“Our electrical infrastructure was designed by top-tier consultants — it doesn’t need optimisation.”
Reality
Airport electrical designs are optimised for capacity and redundancy, not power quality. Even the best-designed networks accumulate harmonic distortion as loads grow and equipment is added. The eGSE and EV charging loads being added today weren’t in the original design brief.
Myth
“We can’t install anything airside without major approvals.”
Reality
HarmoniQ installs at the main switchboard, not at individual airside equipment. It’s a landside electrical installation with no impact on airside operations, aircraft systems, or navigation equipment. Standard electrical contractor access is all that’s required.
Myth
“We’re already investing in electrification — we can’t add another project.”
Reality
Power quality optimisation isn’t a separate project — it’s what makes your electrification investment work better. Every eGSE charger and electric bus you add increases harmonic load. Managing that now avoids costly infrastructure upgrades later and maximises the efficiency of every electrification asset.