The world's first zero-carbon airport was unveiled on July 25 at Ordos Ejin Horo International Airport, marking a major breakthrough in green aviation infrastructure.

A press conference is held in Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo provided to investordos.goinnermongolia.com.cn]

The technology, developed by the Peking University Ordos Energy Research Institute, is based on an integrated "wind-solar-storage-cooling-heating-electricity" system powered by transcritical CO₂ thermodynamic cycles. Since its pilot operation began in March 2025, the system has fully replaced the airport's previous gas boilers and Freon-based cooling units.

According to the project's chief scientist, Zhang Xinrong, the airport now sources over 90 percent of its energy from clean power, consuming more than 21 million kilowatt-hours of wind and solar electricity annually.

The airport's heating and cooling system has cut annual energy use by 60 percent, reduced operating costs by 50 percent, and saved over 2 million cubic meters of natural gas each year. The system achieves zero fossil fuel consumption, zero Freon emissions, and zero cooling water usage, with an energy efficiency ratio of 3.0.

Certified by the China Quality Certification Center and the China Communications and Transportation Association, the airport has achieved a comprehensive emission reduction rate of 95.15 percent, meeting the "zero-carbon" standard. A panel of experts concluded that the technology is of a globally leading status.

The new system marks a paradigm shift away from a traditional fossil-fuel-based energy supply. It is considered replicable and scalable for applications beyond airports, including industrial parks, data centers, and manufacturing facilities. The project offers an economically viable Chinese solution for the global push toward low-carbon transportation infrastructure.