The solar farm will be on site at Cardiff Airport. Image: Cardiff Airport.
Cardiff Airport has signed a joint agreement with Cenin Renewables for a 2MW solar PV farm that will form part of the former's Environmental Flight Path.
It will be built over the next eighteen months within the boundaries of the airport, and provide power to the business via a private wire, with any surplus energy exported to the national grid.
The director of airport planning and development at Cardiff Airport Mark Bailey said that it was “hugely exciting to see this project come to life".
“We’re proud to be working in partnership with a Welsh business who bring with them expert knowledge and a wealth of experience needed to develop this project on our site. When it’s complete it will deliver massive carbon reductions and power the Airport.”
The solar farm will allow the airport to reduce it’s carbon emissions by approximately 860 tonnes a year. This will allow them to save 20,508 tonnes over the next 25 years.
It’s also hoped that the solar farm will benefit biodiversity, providing a space for wildflowers that can help support creatures like bees. A report from the Solar Trade Association, released in June, set out the positive environemntal effects solar farms can have.
Bridgend based renewables company Cenin’s director Martyn Popham added: “Cenin Renewables is delighted to have been chosen to work with Cardiff Airport to help them achieve an important part of their comprehensive plan to decarbonise the airport operation.”
Cardiff Airport’s Environmental Flight Path includes a number of projects that will help to decarbonise its operations and improve sustainability. In October, it began sourcing 100% of its power supply from renewable and clean energy source, as well as signing a charter to encourage sustainability. It’s aiming to introduce electric vehicle charge points across its car park in November, and will continue to implement schemes to reduce plastics and install smart meters among others over the next two years.
It is the second airport to set solar in its sights in recent months. Doncaster Sheffield Airport announced plans for a 1.7MW ground-mounted solar farm in July.