Airports & the environment: Solar power begins generating stellar savings. Part 1 - 100 airports act

Airports of all sizes are becoming increasingly environmentally aware. Apart from issues of noise and emissions - those that produce the greatest number of complaints - the proactive use of solar power is gaining in popularity as an environmental measure that not only saves money, but can actually generate additional cash. At the same time the installation helps underscore the airport's 'green' credentials in an obviously visible manner via the arrays of gleaming solar panels.

However, as always, there are pitfalls to be wary of.

Part 1 of this report looks at what little regulation there is, at which organisation is promoting solar power to airports, at the actual science and the pricing, and it examines installation examples from around the world.