A £10 million solar farm at Birmingham Airport has enabled the site to run entirely on solar energy during peak daylight hours this April. The airport’s sustainability strategy is showing tangible results, with carbon savings exceeding 500 tonnes since last year.
Birmingham Airport has reported achieving full daytime power coverage through solar energy during sunny spells this month, meeting 100% of its energy demand without relying on the national grid.
The milestone comes after sustained investment in renewable infrastructure and is being hailed as a key step toward the airport’s goal of becoming net zero carbon by 2033.
Solar Infrastructure Delivers Beyond Expectations
The airport’s renewable energy capacity has been significantly enhanced by the installation of a 6.8-megawatt solar farm, known as the Alpha Bund, completed last year at a cost of £10 million.
This follows earlier solar additions, including a rooftop array on the terminal building installed in 2012, and a smaller 90-kilowatt system on the north terminal. These combined systems now generate substantial amounts of clean energy.
According to Simon Richards, Chief Financial and Sustainability Officer at Birmingham Airport, “The recent spring sunshine has yielded significant benefits for solar power generation at Birmingham Airport, and we’re delighted to be sustainably generating 100% of our peak daytime power requirements with solar energy,” said Simon Richards, Chief Financial and Sustainability Officer of Birmingham Airport..”
This performance not only exceeded internal expectations but also directly contributed to a reduction in emissions. Since the Alpha Bund went live, the site has saved more than 500 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.
Broader Environmental Efforts Recognised Nationally
The shift towards solar energy is part of Birmingham Airport’s wider sustainability agenda. The airport has committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2033 and is implementing measures across energy, waste, and transport domains to meet that objective.
The current solar achievement is one of several ongoing initiatives aimed at reshaping the airport’s environmental impact.
In recognition of its recent efforts, Birmingham Airport has been shortlisted for the Energy Transition Impact Award at the Midlands Sustainability Excellence Awards 2025. It has also been acknowledged for its waste management practices, ranking among the top UK airports for recycling rates.
Additional developments include infrastructure planning to improve passenger access, such as a proposed high-speed rail link to London.
According to airport planners, this could make Birmingham a more efficient hub than Heathrow for certain travellers, further enhancing its environmental credentials by reducing domestic flight reliance.
