Solar Power World

  • Home
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Articles
    • Most Recent Posts
    • News
      • Latest News Items
      • SPW State News Hub
      • IRA coverage
      • Solar tariffs
      • U.S. manufacturing updates
    • Featured
      • Latest Feature Stories
      • Contractor’s Corner
      • Trends in Solar
      • The Solar Explorer
  • Policy
    • The Solar Policy Scoop
    • IRA Coverage
  • Markets
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Community Solar
    • Utility
  • Products
    • Winners of SPW’s 2024 Top Products
    • Batteries and Storage
    • Electric Vehicle (EV)
    • Inverters
      • U.S. solar inverter manufacturers
    • Racking and Mounting
      • U.S. solar mounting manufacturers
    • Software
    • Solar Panels
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
  • Resources
    • About SPW
    • Digital Issues
    • Event Coverage
    • Podcasts
    • Product Manufacturing Locations
      • U.S. solar inverter manufacturers
      • U.S. solar mounting manufacturers
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
    • Solar Classrooms
    • Suppliers
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Voices
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

7 cool solar installations at U.S. airports

By Kelly Pickerel | March 24, 2016

Share

Check out our other excellent story on 7 cool solar energy applications.

It’s hard to miss the millions of solar panels installed in the United States. We’re on record to hit 16 gigawatts of solar energy production by the end of this year. Solar is everywhere!

If you really want to get a great view of solar production in action, we think it’s time to take a vacation. If you get the chance to fly into or out of any of these seven U.S. airports, just look out your window to see these large pieces of real estate taking advantage of solar power and the electricity it produces. And while you’re up in the air, play a game of “I Spy” to see where else solar is installed throughout the country! Check out these 7 cool solar installations at U.S. airports.

 

 

The largest airport-based solar farm can be found at Indianapolis International Airport. The two-phase solar project with Indianapolis Power & Light Company clocks in at over 20 MW with panels attached to tracking systems that move with the direction of the sun to increase output. ET Energy Solutions installed the project. (Credit: IND Solar Farm)

The largest airport-based solar farm can be found at Indianapolis International Airport. The two-phase solar project with Indianapolis Power & Light Company clocks in at over 20 MW of solar energy with panels attached to tracking systems that move with the direction of the sun to increase output. ET Energy Solutions installed the project. (Credit: IND Solar Farm)

 

Denver International Airport has four solar farms (totaling over 10 MW), including a 4.4-MW project commissioned in 2011 and owned by Constellation. Some of the electricity produced is used directly at the airport, and the rest is sold back to the grid. The airport has a total of 42,358 solar panels spread across 55 acres of solar fields. (Credit: Constellation)

Denver International Airport has four solar farms (totaling over 10 MW), including a 4.4-MW project commissioned in 2011 and owned by Constellation. Some of the electricity produced is used directly at the airport, and the rest is sold back to the grid. The airport has a total of 42,358 solar panels spread across 55 acres of solar fields. (Credit: Constellation)

 

The Tucson International Airport has a uniquely designed 'solar amphitheater' producing 1.25 MW. The project faces southeast to meet FAA anti-glare best practices. Barker Morrissey Contracting, Natural Power and Energy and Kyocera Solar assisted on the project, which used "Made in the USA" components. The airport plans on a 2.5-MW expansion sometime this year. (Credit: Natural Power and Energy)

The Tucson International Airport has a uniquely designed “solar amphitheater” producing 1.25 MW. The project faces southeast to meet FAA anti-glare best practices. Barker Morrissey Contracting, Natural Power and Energy and Kyocera Solar assisted on the project, which used “Made in the USA” components. The airport plans on a 2.5-MW expansion sometime this year. (Credit: Natural Power and Energy)

 

REC Solar installed 2.474 MW at Honolulu International and Kahului Airports, which included both Trina Solar and JA Solar modules. Not only in a hurricane-prone region that requires detailed wind load testing for solar, the area's salty and humid climate made Renusol's non-corrosive plastic material mounting system imperative. (Credit: Renusol)

REC Solar installed 2.474 MW at Honolulu International and Kahului Airports, which included both Trina Solar and JA Solar modules. Not only in a hurricane-prone region that requires detailed wind load testing for solar, the area’s salty and humid climate made Sollega’s non-corrosive plastic material mounting system a perfect choice. (Credit: Sollega)

AMERESCO completed a 3-MW project on the top deck of two parking structures at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in late 2015, making it Minnesota's largest solar generation site. In addition to solar, the project converted more than 7,700 light fixtures to LED technology and brought the total number of electric vehicle charging stations to 18. (Credit: Ameresco)

AMERESCO completed a 3-MW project on the top deck of two parking structures at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in late 2015, making it Minnesota’s largest solar generation site. In addition to solar, the project converted more than 7,700 light fixtures to LED technology and brought the total number of electric vehicle charging stations to 18. (Credit: Ameresco)

 

Chattanooga Airport's 2.1-MW solar farm was completed in 2013 and is located on an area unusable for aviation purposes. This solar project, installed by Inman Solar, produces approximately 85% of the airport's energy needs. The airport would ultimately like to increase the output to 3 MW and become energy self-sufficient and carbon neutral. (Credit: Inman Solar)

Chattanooga Airport’s 2.1-MW solar farm was completed in 2013 and is located on an area unusable for aviation purposes. This solar project, installed by Inman Solar, produces approximately 85% of the airport’s energy needs. The airport would ultimately like to increase the output to 3 MW and become energy self-sufficient and carbon neutral. (Credit: Inman Solar)

 

Tampa Electric (TECO) installed its first utility-scale system in 2015 at Tampa International Airport. The 2-MW parking canopy is on top of a parking garage. Florida's Solar Source installed the project, which is a one-of-a-kind concrete structure. (Credit: Solar Source)

Tampa Electric (TECO) installed its first utility-scale system in 2015 at Tampa International Airport. The 2-MW parking canopy is on top of a parking garage. Florida’s Solar Source installed the project, which is a one-of-a-kind concrete structure. (Credit: Solar Source)

 

About The Author

Kelly Pickerel

Kelly Pickerel has over a decade of experience reporting on the U.S. solar industry and is currently editor in chief of Solar Power World.

Comments

  1. Eric Crisler says

    August 13, 2018 at 6:25 pm

    I was wondering if there is a glare test or similar that one needs to conduct to get clearance to install next to an airport? Is there some standard to adhere to? Do you need to talk to the airport and the AHJ?

    Reply
    • Chris Le says

      January 16, 2019 at 11:58 am

      This is late, but I just came across this article. Here’s some information I found on it.

      https://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/2010s/media/201512.pdf

      https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy14osti/62349.pdf

      Reply
  2. Don Osborn says

    April 2, 2016 at 11:05 am

    Don’t forget what I believe was the first major Airport PV system, a 158 kW Solarport with EV Charging stations at the Sacramento International Airport put in by the Sacramento Municipal Utility Distict in 1995.

    Reply
    • Kathie Zipp says

      April 8, 2016 at 1:03 pm

      This is great Don, thanks for sharing!!!

      Reply

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

Related Articles Read More >

A look at the mobile solar tracker ideal for RVs and food trucks
The solar industry has a wind problem
How to protect projects from the growing frequency of sudden wind gusts.
5 key considerations for energy developers looking to lease from states, cities and towns
Accurate torque values mean less time spent on O&M later
Solar Power World Digital Edition
Check in with the nation's leading solar construction magazine today.
 
“the-informed-solar-installer”
“solar
“spw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Solar Power Professionals.

Contractor’s Corner Podcast

“solar
Solar Power World
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Solar Articles
  • Windpower Engineering & Development
  • Leadership
  • About/Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • WTWH Media

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | RSS

Search Solar Power World

  • Home
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Articles
    • Most Recent Posts
    • News
      • Latest News Items
      • SPW State News Hub
      • IRA coverage
      • Solar tariffs
      • U.S. manufacturing updates
    • Featured
      • Latest Feature Stories
      • Contractor’s Corner
      • Trends in Solar
      • The Solar Explorer
  • Policy
    • The Solar Policy Scoop
    • IRA Coverage
  • Markets
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Community Solar
    • Utility
  • Products
    • Winners of SPW’s 2024 Top Products
    • Batteries and Storage
    • Electric Vehicle (EV)
    • Inverters
      • U.S. solar inverter manufacturers
    • Racking and Mounting
      • U.S. solar mounting manufacturers
    • Software
    • Solar Panels
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
  • Resources
    • About SPW
    • Digital Issues
    • Event Coverage
    • Podcasts
    • Product Manufacturing Locations
      • U.S. solar inverter manufacturers
      • U.S. solar mounting manufacturers
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
    • Solar Classrooms
    • Suppliers
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Voices
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe