RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES
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SOLAR ENERGY SUPPORTS AIRPORT’S NET ZERO JOURNEY
Over 4,000 lightweight solar panels from Solivus are generating over 1.2 GWh of clean energy every year at Farnborough Airport, helping it head towards its target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030
F
arnborough Airport is the home of British aviation and widely recognised as Europe’s
leading airport for premium travel connectivity. In its ongoing efforts to be a sustainability showcase for other airports around the world, it has a clear strategy in place to reach Net Zero by 2030, well ahead of the industry standard. As part of this, the airport sought to reduce
electricity and gas usage and invest in onsite renewable production. However, the path to self- generation proved less than straightforward. Due to operational and environmental restrictions on land-use, the installation of ground-mounted solar at scale was not possible, making rooftop solar the only option. At the same time, however, the iconic architectural curves of the airport building were not conducive to fitting traditional rigid solar panels; and, in common with 40% of commercial buildings like aircraft hangars, the rooftops were unable to support the associated weight. The solution to overcoming these challenges
and installing the desired solar was provided through partnering with lightweight solar technology pioneers, Solivus.
A LIGHTWEIGHT AND PRACTICAL SOLAR SOLUTION Solivus’ lightweight solar solution provides a practical, efficient, and cost-effective option for commercial rooftops, allowing large premises to harness solar energy while minimising structural concerns and installation complexities. Being lightweight it can also be used on a wide variety of roof surfaces, and is typically installed with no penetration of the roof itself. Furthermore, it is said to have much lower glare characteristics compared to conventional solar panels. Now complete, the installation at Farnborough
airport, which commenced works in January 2024, has seen over 4,000 lightweight solar panels
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installed on hangars one and two, the terminal, the control tower, and the Airport’s award winning 169 room hotel, the Aviator Hampshire. Resulting in one of the largest rooftop solar
installations in the region, the works will enable up to 25% of the airport’s annual electricity needs to be met, as well as enabling its growing operational
“Rooftop solar is crucial for decarbonising the built environment”
fleet of electric vehicles to be charged using self-generated electricity. With approximately 75% of solar energy generated to be used on site, the remaining 25% will be sold back to the energy supplier, thus making the financial case for solar even more attractive. In total, the installation will deliver over
1,700 kWp of installed capacity, generating over 1.2 GWh of clean energy every year. This will help Farnborough Airport with its target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. In total the PV installation is expected to generate over 36 GWh of energy in its lifetime and offset more than 5,000 tonnes of CO2e in that time.
MEETING SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES The project, which was planned, delivered and executed as a complete solution by Solivus, was meticulously phased to minimise disruption for the busy airport. Furthermore, working closely with the National Air Traffic Services, Solivus’ design was purposefully constructed to minimise any glint and glare – this included a comprehensive feasibility study, testing
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Winter 2024
factors such as generation potential and shading to determine the optimal placement of panels. Simon Geere, the Group’s CEO, commented: “In
line with our ambition to become a sustainability showcase for airports around the world, we’re proud to have partnered with lightweight solar technology pioneers, Solivus, to install one of the largest rooftop solar projects in the region. The lightweight 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.”
DECARBONISATION The solar installation aligns with a recent government bill, which encourages the extensive deployment of rooftop solar on domestic industrial and commercial property to make effective use of available surfaces as a priority. Solivus CEO, Jo Parker-Swift, explained:
“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. We encourage other airports to seize the opportunity to benefit from our lightweight solar energy installations and advance their own sustainability initiatives.”
Solivus
www.solivus.com
www.essmag.co.uk
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