Farnborough Airport begins large solar installation
Farnborough Airport plans to generate 25% of its own power through one of the largest light-weight solar installations in the southeast of England.
Solar panels will be mounted on Farnborough…
Farnborough Airport plans to generate 25% of its own power through one of the largest light-weight solar installations in the southeast of England.
Solar panels will be mounted on Farnborough Airport’s curved hangar roofs, as well as its terminal building, the control tower, its ground support facility building, and its hotel, the Aviator Hampshire.
The installation will also enable the airport’s operational fleet of electric vehicles to be charged using self-generated electricity.
Farnborough Airport’s CEO, Simon Geere, said: “In our efforts to be a sustainability showcase for airports around the world, we are always looking for new ways to supply and create sustainable energy sources – the new solar installation will enable us to 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.”
Solar power generation
Construction is due to start in 2023 and will be carried out by solar power generation providers Solivus.
Some 40% of large buildings such as aircraft hangers are unable to take the weight of conventional solar and Farnborough embraced this decarbonisation opportunity.
Solivus CEO Jo Parker Swift said: “At Solivus, we are on a mission to simplify the decarbonisation of the built environment, so we are proud to be working alongside a business who have likeminded goals.”
In 2018, Farnborough Airport was the first business aviation airport to achieve Carbon Neutral 3+ status.
In 2021, it began offering all customers Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and in 2022, for a two-week trial period in the lead up to the Farnborough International Airshow, Farnborough Airport became the first airport in the world to offer SAF at the same price as standard Jet A1 fuel.
Also in 2022, Farnborough Airport made a commitment to be Net Zero by 2030 or sooner for emissions within its control, setting one of the most ambitious targets in the aviation industry.
Earlier this year, Farnborough Airport was awarded Level 4+, the highest level of carbon accreditation, by the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) scheme.
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