November 13, 2024

Farnborough Airport Completes Solar Installation, Generating 25% of Its Power

In a significant move towards its ambitious 2030 net-zero target, Farnborough Airport in Hampshire has commissioned one of the largest solar energy projects in the South East of England. The completion of this £2 million initiative means the airport will now generate 25% of its own electricity, drastically cutting its carbon emissions and reliance on the grid.

The newly activated system, installed by solar technology specialist Solivus, comprises over 4,000 lightweight solar modules strategically placed across multiple key structures. These include the airport’s iconic curved hangar roofs, the main terminal building, the air traffic control tower, and the adjacent Aviator Hampshire hotel. The installation boasts a capacity of 1,700 kWp and is projected to generate more than 1.2 GWh of clean energy annually, which will also be used to power the airport’s fleet of electric vehicles.

Innovative Technology Unlocks New Potential for Commercial Solar

A key factor in the project’s success was the use of innovative, lightweight solar technology from Solivus. Many commercial buildings, including aircraft hangars with their vast roof spans, cannot support the weight of conventional solar panels. Solivus’s technology circumvents this common obstacle, opening up new possibilities for large-scale decarbonisation in the built environment.

Jo Parker-Swift, CEO of Solivus, highlighted the technology’s impact, stating, “Rooftop solar is crucial for decarbonising the built environment, but its application has often been constrained by the structural limitations of many commercial buildings. Our lightweight solar innovation addresses this issue, enabling large-scale, cost-effective solar deployment across nearly all large commercial buildings and sites.”

A Milestone in a Comprehensive Net-Zero Strategy

This major rooftop solar project is a cornerstone of Farnborough Airport’s comprehensive Net Zero Roadmap. The airport has a strong track record of environmental commitment, having achieved Carbon Neutral 3+ status in 2018 and recently earning the highest Level 4+ accreditation from the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) scheme.

Simon Geere, CEO of Farnborough Airport, emphasized the project’s strategic importance. “In line with our ambition to become a sustainability showcase for airports around the world, we’re proud to have partnered with Solivus,” he said. “The solar installation is a significant step toward achieving our sustainability objectives, significantly reducing our controllable emissions… as set out in our Net Zero Roadmap, in which we have committed to be Net Zero by 2030 or sooner.”

By pioneering such a large-scale renewable energy project, Farnborough Airport not only advances its own environmental goals but also sets a powerful example for the wider business aviation industry, demonstrating a viable path toward a more sustainable future.

Sources

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Farnborough Airport Completes Solar Installation, Generating 25% of Its Power