- Three expanses of new ground-mounted solar arrays span 2.8 acres
- Latest installation has combined capacity of 1.5 MWp, generating 1.5 GWh per year
- Over 10% of airport’s energy requirement now powered by onsite renewable sources
- Solar structure utilises recycled materials
The ground-mounted solar arrays will generate 1.5 GWh of sustainable electricity each year and, when combined with existing renewable energy on site, will cater for over 10% of the airport’s annual energy needs. Bristol Airport will use 3ti’s solar installation to reach its ambitious target of 25% self-sufficiency by 2025, building on its success of becoming the UK’s first carbon-neutral airport in 2021.
The 3ti project will also help the airport’s efforts in achieving net-zero operations by 2030, following a multi-million-pound investment into solar power, the removal of gas use, air source heat pumps and low-energy LED lighting.
3ti has created a unique design for the Bristol Airport installation, spreading 2,968 panels across three steel-framed structures that sit low to the ground, using recycled railway sleepers to negate the need for deep piling.
The solar installation will generate the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power 388 houses in the first year. Over its 25-year lifespan, it will save around 6,500 tonnes of CO2.
Richard Lees, Delivery Director at 3ti, said: “The installation at Bristol Airport posed a new set of challenges for us which involved many practical and functional considerations, including glare positioning and the impact on key stakeholders such as residents, airport users and the plane spotting community.
“We can now add airports to the list of destinations and workplaces that benefit from our installations providing renewable solar energy,” he concluded.
– Ends –
Media contacts:
Sue Mulcaster Alex Kreetzer Mike Stainton
Sue.Mulcaster@pfpr.com Alex.Kreetzer@pfpr.com Mike.Stainton@pfpr.com
+44 (0) 7842 310087 +44 (0)7874 856311 +44 (0) 7739 891040
Notes to Editors
About 3ti
“3ti is the UK’s leading designer, installer, funder and operator of Solar Car Parks (SCPs). 3ti has a unique three technology (“3t”) approach to generating renewable energy from car parks, on rooftops and under-utilised land.
By integrating local mains electricity with solar power, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and EV charge points, 3ti provides secure, consistent, clean solar energy for businesses whilst simultaneously providing low carbon, fast EV charging infrastructure for employees, suppliers, customers and the general public.
3ti is passionate about renewable energy and believes that providing low carbon EV charging infrastructure is the key to decarbonising the transport sector. Solar energy from car parks is a low cost, low carbon and innovative way to power buildings and EV chargers, enabling customers to generate their own renewable energy and work towards achieving net zero emissions.
The 3ti team is responsible for the two largest SCPs in the UK, at Bentley Motors, Crewe and a global financial institution, and has worked on multi-site projects for the Ministry of Defence and has already installed around 15MWp of solar PV, covering almost 3,000 parking spaces around the country. In addition, 3ti’s multi-award winning Papilio3, the pop-up mini solar car park and EV charging hub is now operational across the UK at Bentley Motors, Silverstone Circuits, Wiltshire Council and the NHS, among others”.