WORK is underway on the build of an £18.5 million solar farm at Glasgow Airport following the successful completion of the project’s development phase.
Once complete, it will be Scotland’s largest airport-based solar farm and is being created by the airport alongside Ikigai Group and Zestec.
The 40-acre ground-mounted solar farm, which will be located on Glasgow Airport-owned land next to Barnsford Road, will be built in phases to accommodate the current and future demand of the airport. Construction will take place over the coming months, with completion of the first phase expected in summer 2024.
The plant will be owned and operated by Zestec, which is owned by funds managed by Octopus Energy Generation, and on completion will produce enough energy equivalent to powering light for approximately 15% of homes in the city of Glasgow.
In addition to being a key component of the airport’s sustainability strategy, the project is the cornerstone of its vision to create an energy hub which will also help local industry decarbonise and reduce energy costs.
Ronald Leitch, operations director at Glasgow Airport, said, “The development of the solar farm marks a key milestone in our sustainability journey by giving the airport the ability to generate clean energy on-site. This will advance our plans to decarbonise our own operations while supporting the net zero ambitions of our airport partners and neighbours. Importantly, it also creates the foundation to turn the airport into an energy hub and allows us to progress our plans to support zero emission flight. We are looking forward to working with Ikigai and Zestec, both of whom share our vision for a sustainable future.”
Helena Anderson, chief operating officer at the Ikigai Group, added, “This project is part of our Energy Innovation advisory mandate to create a low-carbon, multi-fuel, multi-modal energy hub, future proofing the airport’s infrastructure. We are currently working with the airport on additional on-site energy solutions, including the roll out of EV charging and green hydrogen production, with low–cost, private wire solar energy as the enabler.”
Following a tender process led by Ikigai, Zestec was selected as the preferred partner to undertake the development, including construction, procurement, and operation of the project.
Toby Smith, chief operating officer at Zestec, commented, “We are excited to include this solar plant in our growing family of behind-the-meter solutions designed to help Glasgow Airport decarbonise its operations. Our collaboration with the airport and Ikigai aligns perfectly with our goals.”
