Asset & Context
Handling over 17 million passengers annually, Hamburg Airport is the largest international commercial airport in northern Germany and ranks fifth among all German airports.
As part of a comprehensive modernisation programme for Terminal 1, the airport operator faced increasing energy consumption, rising operating costs, and the challenge of maintaining high indoor comfort standards within a critical, continuously operating infrastructure.
The existing air handling units represented a significant share of the terminal’s energy demand and operational risk, making them a key leverage point for efficiency improvements without disrupting airport operations.
Strategic & Execution
The project focused on a building efficiency retrofit and targeted upgrade of HVAC systems, centred on the main air handling units serving Terminal 1.
Our scope included a structured energy audit, detailed load profile analysis, and the development of an energy efficiency retrofit concept tailored to airport-specific operational constraints.
We supported the project across the full lifecycle: engineering design, tender preparation, contractor selection, and implementation oversight through commissioning, ensuring performance alignment with defined energy performance benchmarks and operational requirements.
Outcome & Value
The retrofit delivered a high-performance ventilation system with significantly improved energy efficiency, reduced operational costs, and enhanced indoor climate control for passengers and staff.
By combining technical optimisation with structured implementation governance, the project achieved measurable efficiency gains while safeguarding operational reliability in one of Germany’s most critical transport infrastructures.
