Mexico Planning Solar Powered Airport

• New International Airport For Mexico City has received highest green rating from Standard & Poor (S&P) in Green Evaluation Report
• The airport aims to run completely on 100% renewable energy once it is ready in 2020
• The solar power system installed at the airport is reportedly planned to generate 50 MW peak power  
• Construction for the project is underway and is expected to be ready for commercial operations in the second half of 2020

Mexico City Airport Trust is planning to have PV powering its New International Airport for Mexico City (NAICM). It is expected to cost $21.85 million, states the Green Evaluation report for Mexico City Airport Trust by Standard & Poor (S&P) Global Ratings.

The ratings agency has given a thumbs up to the project that will also have several other energy efficiency measures and green buildings. Construction of green buildings will cost $5.6 billion. S&P has given the project an overall score of E1/77, which is the highest Green Evaluation score on the scale of E1 (highest) to E4 (lowest). S&P cites the 'project's favorable positive impact on energy and emissions savings' as one of the reasons for this positive score.

The airport aims to operate on 100% renewable energy and reduce water usage by 30% and energy consumption by 40% compared to the existing airport. The trust wants it to be the first airport terminal in the world to obtain LEED platinum certification.

Once operations start at the new airport, Mexico City will close operations at the existing airport.

The Mexico City Airport Trust noted, "NAICM was conceived as a sustainable infrastructure project from its inception and seeks to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and pollution through certified green buildings, renewable energy (mainly photovoltaic solar), and water treatment. Therefore, we have assessed this using the methodology for green buildings, energy efficiency, and water usage projects, respectively."

Construction on the project started in 2015 and is expected to be ready for commercial operations in the second half of 2020.

While S&P report did not mention the capacity of the solar power system at the new airport, EPC company Royal HaskoningDHV mentions on its website that "in total, the airport's solar power systems will generate 50 MW of peak power, enough to supply a large portion of its energy needs."

Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO), a Royal HaskoningDHV company, is involved in the design of the airport along with Foster+Partners and FR-EE (Fernando Romero Enterprise). Foster+Partners was also involved in the design of Apple Park (see 17 MW Rooftop Solar Panels On Apple Park).

Greener airports are becoming increasingly trendy. Last year, the Delhi International Airport, which has a 7.84 MW PV system, was awarded a certificate for being the first carbon neutral airport in Asia-Pacific (see Carbon Neutral Airports). The Airports Authority of India is planning to have 146 MW of solar power capacity across India's airports (see More Solar Power For Indian Airports).