Airports

Birmingham Airport Achieves 100% Solar Power in Peak Conditions

Strategic Insights

Jul 2, 2025 — 1 min read

Birmingham Airport has made a significant milestone in its journey towards sustainability, generating 100% of its peak daytime power requirements with solar energy. The airport has invested heavily in solar power, with a solar farm featuring over 12,000 panels and a solar installation of 90kWh light-weight solar film on the roof of the North Terminal. This move towards more sustainable energy sources is aimed at reducing the airport's reliance on the grid and limiting its exposure to market price volatility.

Key Takeaways:

Birmingham Airport has invested nearly £10m in a solar farm featuring over 12,000 panels, which generates 6 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of power a year, enough to power more than 2,000 homes.
The solar installation on the roof of the North Terminal is a 90kWh light-weight solar film that helps to improve energy efficiency by reflecting light and reducing heat.
The airport has saved 1,070 tonnes of carbon since switching on its solar array last year, and has sustainably powered 100% of its required energy during peak conditions on 50 days.
The airport is committed to becoming a net-zero carbon airport by 2033, and will continue to actively reduce its environmental impacts through sustainability initiatives.
Birmingham Airport began its solar energy journey back in 2012, when it first installed panels on the terminal roof.

Statistics:

Birmingham Airport has invested £10m in solar power.
The solar farm features over 12,000 panels.
The solar installation generates 6 GWh of power a year.
The airport has saved 1,070 tonnes of carbon since switching on its solar array last year.
The airport has sustainably powered 100% of its required energy during peak conditions on 50 days.

Sources:

Joanna Whitehead, "Birmingham Airport has revealed that it is currently generating 100 per cent of peak daytime power requirements with solar energy." (No date specified)
Simon Richards, Chief Finance and Sustainability Officer, Birmingham Airport, quoted in "BBC News" (June 2023)

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