Glasgow Airport progresses plans to create solar farm and realise net-zero goals

Glasgow Airport is building a solar farm as part its ongoing commitment to decarbonising its infrastructure and achieving net-zero by the mid-2030s.

The c15MW solar farm is in the early stages of development and expected to be operational by summer 2023 subject to planning approval. The plant is the latest in a number of initiatives the airport and its parent group, AGS Airports, is undertaking to support the journey to net-zero.

The 30-acre on-site, ground mounted solar farm will give Glasgow Airport the capability to generate enough power for the airport campus and neighbouring businesses. It reports this is equivalent to powering almost 20 per cent of homes in the city of Glasgow (approximately 52,000 households).

Reducing consumption

AGS, which also owns Aberdeen and Southampton airports, is in the final phase of a procurement process for internet of things (IoT) services to reduce overall energy consumption by using digital technology, machine learning and artificial intelligence. Earlier this month, AGS announced it had formed the Scottish wind energy consortium with Katrick Technologies and the University of Strathclyde to help enable faster transition to clean power by exploiting low-level wind energy. 

According to AGS Airports, all of its electricity is already purchased from 100 per cent renewable sources and has been since 2018 but creation of the solar farm will allow it to become self-sustaining by generating enough clean energy for both the airport and our neighbours.

“As one of the UK’s leading regional airport groups that serves the Highlands and Islands there’s a real opportunity for AGS to become a testbed for hydrogen- and electric flight and the solar farm gives us the ability to future proof for an increase in electricity demand,” said Derek Provan, chief executive of AGS Airports. 

Proven added: “There will be additional demand due to the electrification of operational vehicles, taxis, rental cars and we will also launch a green car scheme to support our staff to switch to electric vehicles. All of this will require electric vehicle charging infrastructure.