Solar array to be built at Teesside International Airport

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Efforts to decarbonise Teesside International Airport in Darlington have advanced in a new joint venture with SSE Energy Solutions to establish a solar array.

L-R: Ben Houchen, Tees Valley mayor, Phil Clements and Phil Forster, Teesside Airport MD
L-R: Ben Houchen, Tees Valley mayor, Phil Clements and Phil Forster, Teesside Airport MD - Teesside Airport

The first phase of the project is due to enter construction in early 2024 and will see up to 3MW of solar generation initially installed to meet airport and local demand.

Further phases of the project could deliver 50MW of capacity, displacing over 20,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the electricity supply network annually. 

"Our work with SSE Energy Solutions again proves how we can attract the biggest and best companies to our region to work on innovative schemes, which provide well-paid, highly skilled jobs and serious investment while also delivering a greener future,” said Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen. "This landmark agreement has the potential to deliver one of the biggest solar projects of its kind in the UK and will deliver our ambition to make the airport net zero. Indeed, it likely means the airport will be the first in the country to be carbon neutral.” 

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In 2022, Teesside International Airport announced plans to make its operations net zero by 2030 through the decarbonisation of its buildings and infrastructure and the development of sustainable aviation fuel production in the region.

There are also plans for the airport, with SSE to install a new ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging hub powered by the solar array in line with the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority’s ambition to increase the number of public EV charging points in Tees Valley by 200 per cent by 2025.

SSE said it is investing £10m a day to establish clean energy infrastructure across the UK by 2026.

Neil Kirkby, managing director of enterprise at SSE Energy Solutions, said: “This fantastic project aligns perfectly with SSE Energy Solutions’ strategy to help local authorities transition to a net zero carbon future, while creating great opportunities for local people.

“To achieve this, we are building a strong presence within Teesside through the creation of a regional “hub”, the like of which we’re also establishing in many other regions across the UK.”

solar array