Helsinki airport to be equipped with 500-kW solar array

Finnish airports service company Finavia is working on the installation of more than 500 kWp of solar panels on the rooftop of Helsinki airport’s terminal 2.

The photovoltaic (PV) system is expected to start power generation from the end of this summer, Finavia said on Monday. The company is developing the project as part of its climate programme that aims to eliminate the carbon footprint of the company’s 21 airports by 2020.

Once up and running, the solar plant will be the largest airport PV installation in the Nordic countries, with its output accounting for almost 10% of Helsinki airport’s power consumption.

European airport operators have committed to have 100 airports in Europe with zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2030. In line with this plan, Finavia said that it is determined to start lowering CO2 emissions at the other airports it operates by using bioenergy and geothermal heat. For Helsinki airport it also plans to start using renewable diesel for ground vehicles, according to the press release.

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