AN 11-acre solar farm is to be constructed on Edinburgh Airport’s airfield as part of a new sustainability strategy.
The solar farm, which will be the first of its kind at a Scottish airport, will provide 26% of the airport’s energy needs and is being supported by Scottish Government funding of £2 million.
Construction is due to commence later this year, with Edinburgh Airport anticipating that the facility will be operational next summer. The project forms part of the airport’s new sustainability strategy which sets out how it will work towards a sustainable future.
The wider blueprint has a number of targets within in, such as achieving carbon neutrality for direct emissions by 2024; establishing a campus-wide sustainability standard as well as a cleaner engine standard.
Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh Airport, said, “We are excited to be the UK’s first airport to construct a solar farm on an airfield. Some may doubt the power of sun in Scotland, but our solar farm will deliver around 26% of our energy needs and allow us to deliver energy back into the grid when we produce more than we need.
“This project illustrates our commitment to making environmental improvements and is something passengers will actually be able to see as they arrive or depart. We want to be a leading voice and advocate for a new and improved approach. We will continue to identify opportunities to help us move towards our goals because we know Greater Good will evolve with the climate landscape.”
The Scottish Government’s minister for transport, Graeme Dey, said, “I’m delighted to learn of the heartening efforts of Edinburgh Airport to reduce their emissions. “The solar farm, in particular, illustrates how Government and the aviation industry can work together to help achieve Scotland’s ambitious climate change targets. “Together, we can look to create a future in which we enjoy the social and economic benefits of air travel without having an impact on the environment.”
