Frankfurt Airport has launched a 17.4 MW vertical solar system with 37,000 PV modules along Runway 18 West
The vertical bifacial setup supports biodiversity by allowing vegetation growth beneath the panels, says Fraport
The airport aims to meet all electricity needs with renewable energy by mid-2026
Frankfurt Airport in Germany has started operating a new 2,800-meter-long solar power system with 17.4 MW installed capacity along Runway 18 West, featuring 37,000 vertically installed PV modules.
The airport operator Fraport initially tried the vertical PV model with an 8.5 kW pilot demonstration facility equipped with bifacial modules. It had been planning to expand the solar system to 13 MW back then (see Frankfurt Airport Installs Bifacial PV Pilot System).
Expansion of the facility was carried out in phases, based on breeding and nesting seasons, keeping in mind the local biodiversity. With the vertical structure, Fraport said that the soil underneath the panels can continue to thrive as these do not obstruct sunlight or rainfall for the vegetation.
“These advantages make these solar fences attractive not just to our airport, but for public spaces in general,” said Fraport CEO Dr. Stefan Schulte. “Today's commissioning is a milestone on the road towards our Net Zero climate protection goal.”
The 2,800-meter-long system will mainly power terminal air conditioning and the airport’s expanding fleet of electric vehicles (EVs). Panels along the runway are positioned in an east-west direction, capturing sunlight during morning and afternoon hours, according to Fraport, while saving space.
Fraport says this configuration complements the airport’s existing PV installations on the rooftop, carparks, and the main building at the new Terminal 3.
Currently, the airport generates around 90% of its electricity from green energy sources, mainly wind and solar. Starting in mid-2026, EnBW will supply 85 MW of green electricity to the airport under a power purchase agreement (PPA) signed, enabling the airport to cover all its energy needs in Frankfurt from renewable sources.