AMPYR Solar Europe (ASE) and Edinburgh Airport have signed a deal to develop a new solar farm linked with battery technology and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at Scotland’s busiest airport.
Under the agreement, ASE, along with its local construction partner Absolute Solar & Wind, will build approximately 9MW of solar panels, 1.5MW of battery storage and 40 EV charging points.
The ground-mounted solar PV system and battery will be situated next to the runway on a 16-acre plot of land, connected to the airport via a high voltage private wire network.
The development is a cornerstone of Edinburgh Airport’s goal to achieve net zero by 2040 by generating renewable energy that will cover about 30% of the site's total consumption.
“Our commitment to a net zero future is underpinned by the various strands of work we have going on across the airport as part of our Greater Good sustainability strategy and one of the most visible projects will be this solar farm,” said Gordon Dewar, Edinburgh Airport’s chief executive.
“We are happy to confirm our partners in this exciting step and our collaboration will enable us to implement this technology and allow us and Scotland to benefit from it as soon as possible.”
The project is in the late stage of design, with construction planned to start this summer and be fully operational by the start of next year.
Andrew Gould, executive chairman of ASE, commented: “This is the first of ASE’s five renewable energy projects in Scotland to reach the delivery stage: the commitment and support of the Scottish Government and its strong policy position on climate change is clearly attractive to international investment.”
Edinburgh Airport will purchase the power produced by the solar farm through a long-term Power Purchase Agreement with ASE.
The construction is further supported by the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme, which has provided a grant for a portion of the capital expenditure.
Tom Newall, managing director at Absolute Solar & Wind, added: “The co-location of utility scale battery storage and solar PV has enabled us to maximise the green energy generation on site whilst working with the grid connection constraints.
“We look forward to entering the construction phase before progressing to carry out the operation, maintenance and optimisation of the system, as it generates clean power for years to come, providing energy security for a major, Scottish transport hub.”
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