Rooftop solar PV system to provide 25% of Farnborough Airport’s annual demand
Farnborough Airport in Hampshire has completed a £2 million rooftop solar PV project courtesy of solar installer Solivus.
With an installed capacity of 1,700kWp, the system will be capable of generating over 1.2GWh of renewable energy per year and supply up to 25% of the airport’s annual electricity needs.
The installation will also facilitate the growing fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) at the airport by supplying green energy. Around 75% of the annual solar generation will be used on-site, with the remaining 25% to be sold back to the energy supplier.
Solivus started construction on the rooftop solar PV system in January 2024 and has since installed 4,000 lightweight solar modules on hangars one and two, the terminal, the control tower, and the airport’s Aviator Hampshire hotel.
Due to their use at an airport, the Solvus solar PV modules have lower glare characteristics to ensure they do not impact pilots’ landings.
Solivus CEO, Jo Parker-Swift, hailed the Farnborough Airport rooftop solar PV development, outlining that commercial buildings have often been constrained by structural limitations whilst also encouraging other airports to explore rooftop solar PV.
“We are proud to have worked with Farnborough Airport to ensure the future supply of renewable energy, supporting the airport’s progressive net zero emissions journey. We encourage other airports to seize the opportunity to benefit from our lightweight solar energy installations and advance their own sustainability initiative,” Parker-Swift said.
UK airports continue rooftop solar PV adoption
UK airports adhering to their chosen route to net zero emissions have often explored the use of rooftop solar PV, alongside ground-mount solar PV, to match their electricity demand cost-effectively.
For instance, in 2023, energy supplier SSE Energy Solutions confirmed it would explore the development of a “major solar power project” at Teesside Airport, with a potential capacity of around 50MW. This will aid in achieving the airport’s net zero by 2030 ambition.
Up to 3MW of solar generation will be installed in the first phase of this project to meet airport and local demand. Once this has been completed, further phases could deliver 50MW of additional capacity “over the coming years”.
Solar Power Portal has previously reported that solar was providing London Southend Airport with 25% of its annual energy consumption to reduce its carbon footprint.
In May 2023, Bristol Airport revealed that it had started work on a 2.8-acre solar PV plant which would help generate at least 16% of the airport’s direct energy needs over the year.
Original source: Solarpowerportal
