Blackpool Airport maps out 62-acre solar farm

Bidding farewell to one of the aerodrome’s two runways, the renewable energy proposals from the local authority would be capable of generating enough electricity to power 6,000 homes a year.

Blackpool Council has submitted a screening opinion request for a 20.1-megawatt solar farm on 62 acres at Blackpool Airport. This would be able to generate 18.7m kWH of renewable electricity each year, reducing the council’s net electricity consumption by up to 75%. The energy created from the solar farm would go towards council buildings, the airport, and future data centres.

Part of the proposals, which are still in the early phase, includes buffer strips between the solar farm and main runway, and another hedge buffer between the farm and nearby residences.

The solar farm would have a lifespan of 30 years, according to documents drawn up by planner Cassidy + Ashton.

Comprising of 36,500 photovoltaic panels, the solar farm would sit south of the airport’s main runway – Runway 28/10. However, its installation would necessitate the demise of the airport’s second, smaller runway.

Runway 13/31 was only used by 4% of flights last year, according to airport owner Blackpool Council. The runway has been on borrowed time, with an emerging masterplan calling for its closure anyway.

“This is an opportunity for the airport to make best use of the land by repurposing it so that it creates a revenue stream for the airport, while reducing our energy bills and supporting our ten-year plan to become more financially sustainable,” said airport managing director Steve Peters.

He added later: “Runway 28/10 at 1,800 metres long provides good capability for a busy airport, which handles around 40,000 flight movements per year, and this move would support our wider plans to improve the airport even further in the coming years.”

In addition to helping Blackpool Council achieve net zero goals, the solar farm would have a role in futureproofing the airport by providing renewable energy capability for possible hybrid/electric battery-powered aircraft.

It is also a major aspect of Blackpool Council’s Silicon Sands, a major development project that would see the airport become a data centre campus.

Cllr Jane Hugo, cabinet member for climate change at Blackpool Council, spoke about where the solar farm sits within the local authority’s plan for the future.

“The council and its companies own a significant number of buildings and homes, as well as an airport, all of which are large energy consumers,” she said.

“These solar farm proposals would allow us to generate our own green energy, reducing our carbon emissions and energy bills considerably. It will also help support our plans to grow the local economy, by providing green energy to data centres and businesses at Silicon Sands, as well as helping the airport to explore the next generation of sustainable aviation.”

Horizon Power and Energy assisted Cassidy + Ashton on the feasibility studies for the solar farm. You can read the proposals by searching 24/0478 on Fylde Council’s planning portal. While the airport is owned by Blackpool Council, a good chunk of it sits within Fylde’s planning remit – thus why the application is with the other council for approval.