Liverpool John Lennon Airport invests in solar farm to boost sustainability

Liverpool John Lennon Airport is taking a giant leap towards sustainability.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) has announced a £3M partnership with Activ8 Energies and SSE Airtricity to create a cutting-edge solar farm.

The project will deliver a renewable energy source capable of generating up to 3MW (megawatts) of electricity.

Preparatory work on the 22 acre solar farm located within the airport perimeter fence on land to the east of the runway, will start soon with the solar panels due to be installed and starting to generate electricity in Summer 2025.

Once fully energised, the solar farm will generate 25% of the airport’s current overall electricity demand, supplying renewable power for airport operations and is even expected to be a small exporter of surplus power to the local grid on sunny days during the summer months.

The airport’s investment in the solar farm is a key part of its Decarbonisation Plan which sets out the route towards a zero carbon future for the airport operation by 2040.

Andrew Dutton, Head of Environment and Sustainability for LJLA, said:

“We have been working hard minimising energy use and reducing our CO₂ emissions through various initiatives for many years and this new solar farm is the next part of our journey towards a zero carbon future by 2040.

“Passengers flying in and out of the airport next summer will perhaps have the best view of this environmentally friendly renewable energy source for the airport helping us to further reduce carbon dioxide emissions.”

Ciaran Marron, CEO Activ8 Energies, added:

“We are excited to partner with Liverpool John Lennon Airport on this large scale solar farm project. This marks a significant step not only in supporting the airport’s sustainability goals but also in advancing our UK expansion plans.

It is an excellent opportunity for Activ8 Energies to demonstrate our commitment to delivering sustainable energy solutions that help businesses reduce their carbon footprint and move towards a greener future. This partnership is a pivotal moment in our journey to drive meaningful change across the UK energy landscape.”