Farnborough Airport has completed a large-scale installation of over 4,000 lightweight solar panels, a project that will generate 25% of its energy needs. The new system will produce over 1.2 GWh of clean energy annually, offsetting more than 5,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
Ambitious Solar Installation Powers 25% of Farnborough Airport’s Energy
Farnborough Airport has completed a monumental solar installation, marking a significant step in its journey toward becoming carbon neutral by 2030. As one of the largest lightweight solar projects in the South East of England, this initiative will provide 25% of the airport’s energy, reducing its reliance on traditional power sources and furthering its environmental goals.
The ambitious project took eight months to complete and involved installing over 4,000 lightweight solar panels across multiple structures, including the iconic curved hangar roofs, the state-of-the-art terminal building, the control tower, and the 169-room Aviator Hampshire hotel.
Capable of generating more than 1.2 GWh of clean energy annually, the installation will offset over 5,000 tonnes of carbon emissions throughout its operational lifespan.
Farnborough Airport partnered with solar solutions provider Solivus for the project. Solivus specializes in lightweight solar technology that is ideal for structures unable to support the weight of conventional panels, such as aircraft hangars. Their innovation makes solar power more accessible for commercial buildings with structural limitations.
Simon Geere, CEO of Farnborough Airport, commented on the airport’s commitment to sustainability: “In line with our ambition to become a sustainability showcase for airports around the world, we’re proud to have partnered with Solivus to install one of the largest rooftop solar projects in the region. The solar installation is a significant step toward achieving our sustainability objectives, significantly reducing our controllable emissions.”
Solivus’s Lightweight Panels Make Solar Accessible for Complex Structures
Jo Parker-Swift, CEO of Solivus, highlighted how their technology addresses a key challenge in reducing carbon emissions: “Rooftop solar is crucial for decarbonising the built environment, but its application has often been constrained by the structural limitations of many commercial buildings.
“Traditional solar panels are simply too heavy for many rooftops. Our lightweight solar innovation addresses this issue, enabling large-scale, cost-effective solar deployment across nearly all large commercial buildings and sites,” Parker-Swift noted.
The new solar installation will power Farnborough Airport’s operations, including charging its fleet of electric vehicles with self-generated electricity. With a capacity of over 1,700 kWp, the photovoltaic system is expected to generate over 36 GWh of energy across its lifetime, making a vital contribution to the airport’s sustainability journey.
Part of a Broader Sustainability Strategy
The solar project is the latest milestone in Farnborough Airport’s broader sustainability strategy. The airport achieved Carbon Neutral 3+ status in 2018, began offering Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to all customers in 2021, and in 2022 became the world’s first to offer SAF at the same price as standard Jet A1 fuel.
In addition to the solar installation, Farnborough has taken several other measures to decrease its carbon footprint.
This year, the airport received the highest accreditation (Level 4+) from the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) scheme, a program that assesses and rewards airports for their carbon reduction efforts, underscoring its commitment to environmental responsibility.
The project aligns with Farnborough Airport’s comprehensive Net Zero Roadmap, which details the steps needed to achieve net zero by 2030. According to CEO Simon Geere, the installation is a pivotal element of that plan. “This installation will reduce our controllable emissions, as set out in our Net Zero Roadmap, in which we have committed to be Net Zero by 2030 or sooner.”
This initiative is poised to influence other business aviation hubs and large commercial facilities to explore solar power and adopt similar eco-friendly practices. As Farnborough Airport continues its push toward net zero, it stands as a model for sustainable innovation, showing how renewable energy and advanced technology can help achieve ambitious environmental goals.