The German Next2Sun has commissioned a vertical PV installation on the West Runway of Frankfurt Airport.
The vertically mounted solar array extends over 2.8 km and includes approximately 37,000 modules. With an installed capacity of 17.4 megawatts, the system is expected to generate up to 17.4 million kWh of electricity annually. The solar energy produced will mainly support the terminal’s air conditioning and Frankfurt Airport’s growing electric fleet.
“This project demonstrates the scalability of our vertical photovoltaic technology,” says Heiko Hildebrand, CEO of Next2Sun. “It can be flexibly integrated into various infrastructures, including transport corridors and agricultural land.”
Next2Sun has previously supplied several large-scale agricultural photovoltaic systems with vertically mounted modules. According to the company, the east-west orientation of the panels enables particularly space-efficient land use and optimized energy generation during the morning and evening hours.
Construction at Frankfurt Airport was carried out in close cooperation with local environmental authorities. Next2Sun noted that installation schedules were adjusted to accommodate breeding and nesting seasons, protecting the airport’s sensitive green areas.
The new solar energy project marks a new milestone in Frankfurt Airport’s sustainability strategy. Fraport AG, the airport operator, aims to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2045.
“The international attention this innovative system has received reinforces our commitment to exploring new approaches that will help lead global aviation towards a sustainable future,” said Stefan Schulte, CEO of Fraport AG.
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