An eleven-acre 9.7MW solar farm beside the runway at Edinburgh Airport has been officially opened by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes.
It’s the UK’s first airside solar farm, sitting adjacent to the runway and is expected to provide around 27% of the airport’s electricity needs. It has been developed, funded and is operated in partnership with AMPYR Solar Europe (ASE), with the Scottish Government providing £2.1 million of funding to get the project off the ground.
While the solar farm has been generating electricity since 2024, this will be its first full year of operation – and will help towards a larger decarbonisation effort currently underway at Edinburgh Airport.
That’s because Edinburgh Airport is working towards a 2030 net zero target for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions under its Greater Good sustainability strategy. It has already cut its own emissions by 90% since 2019, and is also the only airport in Scotland to have reached Level 4+ in the global Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme.
Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, commented, “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.”
Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister, added, “The Scottish Government is committed to working with the private sector to accelerate Scotland’s transition to a net zero future. 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.”
Tarun Agrawal, CEO of AMPYR Solar Europe, concluded, “In constructing this solar park, ASE is pleased to have partnered with Edinburgh Airport in support of its “Greater Good” sustainability strategy.
“The Edinburgh Airport project is the first of 6 major solar, BESS and on-shore wind investment projects that AMPYR shareholders have made in Scotland, making them one of the most significant inward investors into the Scottish renewables sector. The commitment shown by Scottish Government has critically provided certainty and confidence, and we look forward to contributing further to Scotland’s energy transition.
“The Edinburgh Airport solar farm further strengthens ASE’s PV and BESS asset footprint in the UK, and reflects our continuing growth as a leading European IPP with world class assets in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands.”
Solar farms at other airports
While Edinburgh lays claim to being the first airport in the UK to have an airside solar farm, it’s not the only airport leveraging solar power to cut its emissions. In fact, Stansted Airport announced earlier this year that it will soon be home to a 14.3MW solar farm operated by EDF Renewables, while Gatwick Airport has also committed to installing on-site renewables in the future to help with its decarbonisation efforts.
Meanwhile outside of the UK, Rome’s Fiumicino is home to one of Europe’s largest airport solar farms, featuring more than 55,000 panels.
