First look at new Birmingham Airport mega solar farm which will power terminals
A new mega solar farm is powering terminals at Birmingham Airport in a push to become more sustainable and rely less on the grid. Pictures shared from inside Birmingham Airport showed the 12,000 panels that will help power operations at the busy travel hub.
Work began last year on the £9.7m solar facility, which is now responsible for providing at least 20 percent of the airport’s electrical power requirement. The power is needed, with operations stepping up at the airport to meet increasing demand from travellers.
Most recently this includes nine new Birmingham Airport Ryanair routes, an expanded Jet2 BHX schedule including a 'first-ever move', and new hospitality outlets including the new opening of Desi tea shop Chaiiwala. Airport chief Nick Barton said the new solar farm was part of the "significant investments" they are making at Birmingham Airport.
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He said they airport was on track to beat the government’s deadline and become net zero by 2033, with the new 6.8-megawatt solar farm integral to that. This week Aviation Minister, Mike Kane visited Birmingham Airport to see the solar farm, which was designed with Evo Energy.
Mr Kane got to see the expanse of the solar panel site and met Pena Mason, the first civilian air traffic control apprentice. Mr Barton said: “We are delighted to be the first airport the minister visited since his appointment. He saw first-hand the significant investments we are making at the airport and the progress we are making in sustainability and skills development.
“Our solar panels will ensure that at certain times of the year, during sunnier and warmer days, we will have no reliance on incoming power sources, key to our net zero target.”
Mr Kane said: “It’s fantastic to see Birmingham Airport embrace our 2033 net zero mission. Their new solar farm, built with millions of pounds of investment, will produce almost a quarter of the electricity the airport needs over the coming years.
“It’s this sort of innovation and drive that will help the UK become a clean energy superpower, and we will continue to support industry to achieve that goal.”
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