Japan's Narita International Airport (NAA) is to host a 180 MW solar power generation capacity to be established by its joint venture with Japanese natural gas utility Tokyo Gas, which the latter believes makes it the world's largest solar power project for an airport.
Green Energy Frontier, the 50:50 JV, sees potential for solar power to be installed on some 200-hectare space near runways and on rooftops of the airport buildings for capacity of this magnitude. It will target to deploy 75 MW by FY 2030-end, and remaining 105 MW by FY 2045-end.
Operating for 40 years now, for NAA upgrading its ageing energy supply infrastructure and ensure decarbonization are the main factors behind its JV with Tokyo Gas.
The JV will take over the airport's energy supply facilities in Chiba Prefecture to supply electricity and heat. Plan includes upgrading the management of existing plants and improving energy efficiency followed by introducing large scale solar power generation facilities and also introduce hydrogen and carbon recycling on site.
"At Narita International Airport, we will be the first in the world to build a "decarbonized airport model" that is both environment friendly and resilient," stated Tokyo Gas.