The development of London Stansted’s on-site solar farm passed a significant construction milestone this week following the successful installation of the 1,500th solar panel.
The 14.3MW solar farm, the first of its kind at a London airport, is being constructed and operated by SAS Energy, EDF power solution’s C&I solar division, on land already owned by Stansted immediately to the east of the airport. In total, 24,000 panels will have been installed on completion of the project.
The development, an integral part of the London Stansted’s £1.1 billion transformation programme, is designed to meet the airport’s current and increasing electricity demands, including from the growing use of electric vehicles, and will support its commitment to make operations net zero carbon by no later than 2038.
London Stansted’s managing director, Gareth Powell, enthused: “It’s very exciting to see the solar farm really taking shape and this great progress means we are on track to complete the installation phase in early 2026 before it becomes operational later in the spring.
“Our partnership with EDF Renewables UK to deliver this ground-breaking project is another demonstration to our commitment to develop and grow London Stansted in the most responsible and sustainable way possible.
“Our ongoing transformation programme isn’t just focused on investing in new passenger services and extending the terminal building, it’s also about developing other innovative schemes such as the solar farm that will help us reduce and mitigate the impacts of growth.
“We have a proud track record of sustainable development having been awarded Level 3+ carbon neutral status in 2018 in recognition of our extensive work to reduce and offset carbon emissions and have sourced all our electricity from renewable sources for over a decade.
“The addition of the solar farm will enable us to build on our achievements, generate our own renewable electricity on-site and drive forward our pledge to make our operations net zero carbon by 2038.”
The output of the farm at its peak, on the sunniest days of the year, will provide the equivalent energy consumed by around 6,000 homes, a similar number of households to the town of Saffron Walden.
The project will also include the enhancement of biodiversity on site and the implementation of additional screening measures, such as the planting of over 50 new Willow and Field Maple trees, hedgerow reinstatement and 750 metres of new hedgerows plus a 19-hectare wildflower meadow.