Farnborough Airport has completed a large-scale solar installation with over 4,000 lightweight panels, enabling it to generate 25% of its energy needs. This solar installation will produce over 1.2 GWh of clean energy annually and offset more than 5,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
Ambitious Solar Installation Powers 25% of Farnborough Airportโs Energy
Farnborough Airport has completed a monumental solar installation, marking a significant step in its journey toward becoming carbon neutral by 2030. This initiative โ one of the largest lightweight solar installations in the South East of England โ is set to provide 25% of the airportโs energy needs, thereby reducing its reliance on traditional power sources and furthering its environmental goals.
The ambitious project took eight months to complete, with over 4,000 lightweight solar panels installed across multiple structures at the airport. Panels now cover the iconic curved hangar roofs, the state-of-the-art terminal building, control tower, and the 169-room Aviator Hampshire hotel. The installation โ capable of generating more than 1.2 GWh of clean energy each year โ will offset over 5,000 tonnes of carbon emissions throughout its operational lifespan.
Farnborough Airport partnered with solar solutions provider Solivus to carry out the project. Solivus specializes in lightweight solar technology, ideal for structures that cannot support the weight of conventional panels such as aircraft hangars. This innovation has made solar power more accessible for commercial buildings with structural limitations.
Ready to make big Profits?
The solar Industry is Booming
WE HELP NEWCOMERS to the solar industry start their own solar module production line. Customers can make BIG PROFITS by selling modules and finding investors, without wasting money and time on things they don't need!
Simon Geere, CEO of Farnborough Airport, expressed pride in the installation and in the airportโs commitment to sustainability. โIn line with our ambition to become a sustainability showcase for airports around the world, weโre 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.โ
Solivusโs Lightweight Panels Make Solar Accessible for Complex Structures
Jo Parker-Swift, CEO of Solivus, highlighted the importance of rooftop solar for reducing carbon emissions in the built environment. โRooftop solar is crucial for decarbonising the built environment, but its application has often been constrained by the structural limitations of many commercial buildings.
โTraditional 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,โ Parker-Swift noted.
Farnborough Airportโs new solar installation will power various aspects of its operations. Notably, it will support the airportโs fleet of electric vehicles by enabling them to be charged using 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, a vital contribution to the airportโs sustainability journey.
Part of a Broader Sustainability Strategy
This development is part of Farnborough Airport's broader sustainability strategy. In 2018, it achieved Carbon Neutral 3+ status, recognizing its emissions offset efforts. In 2021, it began offering Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to all customers, and in 2022, became the worldโs first airport to offer SAF at the same price as standard Jet A1 fuel.
The new solar installation is one of several measures Farnborough Airport has adopted to decrease its carbon footprint. This year, it received the highest carbon accreditation level (Level 4+) from the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) scheme, underscoring its commitment to environmental responsibility. The ACA certification program assesses and rewards airports based on their carbon reduction efforts.
The solar installation aligns with Farnborough Airportโs comprehensive Net Zero Roadmap. This roadmap outlines the steps the airport is taking to reduce its emissions and achieve net zero by 2030. According to CEO Simon Geere, the solar installation is a pivotal element of the roadmap. โThis 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.โ
This latest step is expected to influence other business aviation hubs and large commercial facilities to explore solar power and adopt eco-friendly practices. As Farnborough Airport continues its efforts to reach net zero, it serves as an inspiration for sustainable innovation, demonstrating how renewable energy and advanced technology can support ambitious environmental goals.