Edinburgh Airport opens airside solar farm supplying a quarter of energy needs

Edinburgh Airport, part of the VINCI Airports network, has officially inaugurated one of the UK’s first airside solar farms. The eleven-acre farm, located next to the airport’s runway, is already claimed to be producing around 27% of the airport’s energy needs. On several occasions this year, the airport says it was able to operate entirely on solar power during daytime hours.

image: Edinburgh Airport

The project is the first of its kind in Scotland and has been supported by £2.1m of Scottish Government funding aimed at helping businesses decarbonise.

Edinburgh airport is the only one in Scotland to reach Level 4+ in the global Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme - one of just 50 worldwide and six in the UK. As part of VINCI Airports’ global environmental action plan, the solar farm strengthens the network’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions (scope 1 & 2) across its European and UK airports by 2030.

Edinburgh Airport worked with solar specialist AMPYR Solar Europe to develop, fund and operate the project.

The installation comprises a 9.7MW solar farm alongside 1.5MW of battery storage. The battery system is intended to help manage the electricity generated by the solar panels and support the airport's wider energy requirements, including electric vehicle charging.

The project forms part of Edinburgh Airport's Greater Good sustainability strategy, which includes a target to reduce emissions from its own operations and increase the amount of energy generated on site.

The airport says it has reduced its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 87% since 2021. It has also installed 44 electric vehicle chargers, introduced 25 electric vehicles and four electric coaches, and installed 31 fixed electrical ground power units for aircraft.

Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport said, “Making sure we have a sustainable future is one of our most important goals, and it’s important that we innovate and harness technology that can help deliver that for the airport. The introduction of the UK’s first airfield solar farm is a key part of our Greater Good sustainability strategy, delivering almost 27% of our energy needs and diversifying our energy mix – and we are proud to be an airport that continues to look to innovative solutions to meet our goals. It also demonstrates how government and the private sector can work together to help deliver a more sustainable Scotland alongside, in our case, the benefits of air travel and connectivity to the economy.”

Visitng the site to mark the official inauguration, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said, “Edinburgh Airport’s solar farm is a fantastic example of how government support, combined with private sector appetite and expertise, can deliver real and lasting change. By generating clean energy on site, this pioneering project is not only helping one of the country’s most important transport hubs cut emissions but also supporting green jobs, energy resilience and sustainable economic growth. I am proud that Scottish Government funding has played a part in making this vision a reality and showing the kind of leadership we need on the journey to net zero.”