Shannon Airport Opens Airfield Solar Farm

Ireland’s Shannon Airport (SNN) has opened a 5.5-acre solar farm that will have the capacity to produce about a fifth of the airport’s electricity.

The airport’s 1.2-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) system is made up of 2,700 panels. The solar farm, which cost €3.6 million ($4.2 million) to build, is located within SNN’s airfield.

“It is expected to supply up to 20% of Shannon Airport’s annual electricity needs, significantly reducing reliance on the national grid and fossil fuels by generating renewable energy on-site,” SNN said.

The airport said early trials of the system indicate it is “outperforming expectations, generating impressive levels of renewable energy, including 100% of the terminal building’s full electricity requirement at certain times on peak days.”

A grant from the Irish government covered €1.5 million of the solar farm’s cost. Ray O’Driscoll, SNN’s interim CEO, said the “grant was invaluable in delivering our solar PV farm, a key project under our sustainability strategy.”

The airport also opened a 7,800 ft.² expansion of the area serving five of SNN’s gates. “This is comprised of 4,800 ft.² of new internal space and 3,000 ft.² of integrated external covered walkways offering extra protection from the elements to passengers as they move from boarding gate to aircraft,” SNN said.

The expansion, which cost €3 million, supports gates used for short-haul flights. The area has been “reconfigured to optimize queuing and circulation space,” SNN said.