Powering Airports with Emergency Christmas Power
On Christmas Day, one of the UK’s largest passenger airport terminals experienced a major power outage due to a fire caused by a faulty HV cable. The fault challenged MEMS Power Generation to supply, deliver, and install immediate emergency power to the terminal. MEMS responded immediately, showcasing its unparalleled expertise in delivering dependable power solutions during crises.
The award-winning airport serves around 46 million passengers a year on short and long haul flights. Any loss of power would seriously affect the running of the airport causing significant delays to thousands of passengers.
Project Summary
One Christmas Day evening, MEMS received an urgent call to assist with restoring power to the airport. Within just three hours, MEMS delivered and installed a 500kVA and two 1250kVA generators to power critical infrastructure, including buildings both landside and airside.
Recognising the growing demands of the situation, MEMS swiftly delivered additional generators through the night and into Boxing Day. The full deployment included:
- Two more 1250kVA generators
- Two additional 500kVA generators
- An off-loadable 800kVA generator
- Over 4,625 metres of 240mm cable
With precision and efficiency, MEMS engineers and technicians worked continuously to restore power to essential systems and facilities.
The Results
As one of the country’s leading stand-by power suppliers with an unrivalled reputation for emergency response, MEMS was the client’s first port of call. The team successfully provided emergency Christmas power to the major airport, ensuring the continuance of power for all passengers, crew, and airport staff right through the Christmas period and into the New Year.
Daily fuel deliveries and comprehensive fuel management services were expertly coordinated to keep all generators running at peak performance. This meticulous planning ensured the airport’s essential systems remained operational, avoiding significant disruption during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
By responding rapidly and efficiently, MEMS minimised delays for passengers, crew, and staff, helping the airport maintain its reputation for reliability. Thanks to MEMS expertise and commitment, the client received a seamless power solution that met the demands of a critical time.
