The Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in Finland has become the first airport among the Scandinavian countries to have opted for a PV installation. A 312 kW system was recently installed at the Finnair Cargo Centre with modules from Indian PV module maker Vikram Solar.
The modules use anti-reflection coating glass that absorbs more than 94% of incident light, which is said to help reduce risk of glare for air traffic at and around the airport. The system was installed by system integrator Finnwind Oy of Finland. It is also the strategic partner of Vikram Solar in Finland, stated a press release. The system is expected to generate 280,000 kWh of clean power per year.
"Sustainability is important for Finnair Cargo customers, as well as their customers", says Janne Tarvainen, Managing Director of Finnair Cargo. "Our new cargo hub features advanced automation technology and has temperature controlled areas for e.g. pharmaceuticals and other perishable products, and the solar plants support the energy efficiency of the terminal."
Solar power systems at airports are getting increasingly popular. The pioneer in this field is India, where the Airports Authority of India plans to install a total of 146 MW of solar power capacity at 16 airports across the country, as announced by the government in July 2016 (see More Solar Power For Indian Airports). Recently, India's Cochin International Airport became the world's first fully solar powered airport.