Equipped with a 2.5 megawatt solar photovoltaic array, the unit was constructed by Stobart Developments and is located on 3.2 hectares of unused grassland to the north of the airport site. The array itself comprises over 9,500 individual solar panels, which are mounted on three metre high steel frames that in turn are supported on approximately 2,600 piles across 37 rows. Layout of the panels has been specially designed to prevent reflective glare affecting approaching aircraft or the air traffic control tower.
Installation of the £2m solar farm, which involved around 100 workers, got underway in November 2015 and was registered with OfGEM on December 31 last year. The solar farm will now start supplying electricity to the airport, with additional capability for limited power also being exported to the national grid.
