Farnborough Airport to build one of the largest solar installations in the south east

Farnborough Airport has unveiled plans for what it says will be one of the most significant light-weight solar installations in the south east.

The innovative and extensive plans will see solar panels mounted on Farnborough Airport’s iconic curved hangar roofs, as well as its state-of-the-art terminal building, the Airport’s control tower, its Ground Support Facility building, and its award winning 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 solar installation project is aligned with the Airport’s wider sustainability goals, as Farnborough Airport’s CEO Simon Geere explains, “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.” The installation also aligns with a recent government bill, which encourages more rooftop solar, opposed to solar on agricultural land.

The installation will be carried out by solar power generation providers Solivus. Solivus are at the forefront of new-innovation light-weight solar installations. 40% of large buildings like aircraft hangers are unable to take the weight of conventional solar and Farnborough embraced this decarbonisation opportunity.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer Jo Parker-Swift commented: “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.”