Solar takes off at Farnborough Airport
Farnborough Airport has announced the completion of one of the largest light-weight solar installations in the South East, which will provide 25% of the power the airport requires.
While business flights are notorious for being a disproportionate source of emissions, Farnborough itself has historically made efforts to mitigate this.
In 2018, it became the first business aviation airport to achieve Carbon Neutral 3+ status and three years later it began offering Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Following this, they ran a two-week trial in the lead up to the Farnborough International Airshow, which established them as the first airport in the world to offer SAF at the same price as standard Jet A1 fuel. The Airport also 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.
The latest project has seen over 4,000 solar panels mounted on the iconic curved hangar roofs, as well as its terminal building, the control tower and its 169 room hotel, the Aviator Hampshire. The installation will also enable the Airport’s operational fleet of electric vehicles to be charged using self-generated electricity.
The installation will deliver over 1,700 kWp of installed capacity annually, generating over 1.2 GWh of clean energy each year. In total, the installation is expected to generate over 36 GWh of energy in its lifetime offsetting more than 5,000 tonnes of CO2e.
With 40% of large buildings, such as aircraft hangers, unable to take the weight of conventional solar panels, solar power generation providers Solivus installed a lightweight solution, minimising structural concerns and installation complexities.
Farnborough Airport CEO Simon Geere said: ‘In line with our ambition to become a sustainability showcase for airports around the world, we’re proud to have partnered with solar technology pioneers, Solivus, to install one of the largest rooftop solar projects in the region. The solar installation is a significant step towards 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.’
Solivus CEO, Jo Parker-Swift commented: ‘Rooftop solar is crucial for decarbonising the built environment, but its application has often been constrained by the structural limitations of many commercial buildings. Put simply, traditional solar panels are 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.
‘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.’
