London Stansted Airport main terminal building and the three satellite buildings in which the gates are located. Credit: My another account (talk) / Wikimedia.

London Stansted Airport (STN) in the UK has obtained planning permission from the Secretary of State to develop an airport solar farm.

The clean energy generated by the solar facility will help the airport meet its existing and increasing electricity needs.

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The facility will also support the airport in attaining its 2038 goal of net-zero carbon operations.

London Stansted managing director Steve Griffiths said: “We are delighted to receive planning permission from the Secretary of State for our 14.3MW solar farm on land owned by the airport next to the main site.

“London Stansted has a long and proud track record of sustainable development, including achieving independently-verified carbon neutral status in 2016 for the airport operations under our direct control.

“The solar farm will enable us to build on this achievement in line with our commitment to make our operations net zero carbon by no later than 2038.”

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With a capacity of 14.3MW, the solar facility will be on land owned by Stansted, located to the east of the airport at High House Farm.

Griffiths added: “The development will see the airport generating its own renewable electricity on-site, connecting directly to our own private network, increasing the security of energy supply while at the same time freeing up renewable energy we currently purchase for others to use elsewhere on the grid.

“We will continue to explore new and innovative opportunities as they arise to ensure we deliver the airport’s future growth in the most sustainable and responsible way possible.”

Additionally, the solar project will be supported by the implementation of additional screening measures, including new tree plantations.

In May last year, London Stansted completed £70m baggage system upgrade works.

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