Work to build a solar farm at Glasgow Airport is now underway.

The 40-acre site, located on land next to Barnsford Road, Inchinnan, will be built in phases to accommodate the current and future demand of the airport and neighbouring businesses.

Approximately £18.5million is being invested to create Scotland's largest airport-based solar farm, which will provide access to low-cost, green energy.

Construction will take place over the coming months, with completion of the first phase expected in summer 2024.

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The plant will be owned and operated by Zestec, which is owned by funds managed by Octopus Energy Generation.

It is hoped that, on completion, the solar farm will produce enough energy equivalent to powering light for approximately 15% of homes in Glasgow.

In addition to being a key component of the airport's Sustainability Strategy, the project is the cornerstone of its vision to create an energy hub that will also help local industry decarbonise and reduce energy costs.

The Ikigai Group, known for its expertise in advising on and developing renewable projects for large infrastructure operators, funded and carried out the development of the project.

Ronald Leitch, operations director of Glasgow Airport, said: "The development of the solar farm marks a key milestone in our sustainability journey by giving the airport the ability to generate clean energy on-site.

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"This will advance our plans to decarbonise our own operations while supporting the net-zero ambitions of our airport partners and neighbours. 

"Importantly, it also creates the foundation to turn the airport into an energy hub and allows us to progress our plans to support zero emission flight. 

"We are looking forward to working with Ikigai and Zestec, both of whom share our vision for a sustainable future."

Helena Anderson, chief operating officer of the Ikigai Group, added: "This project is part of our Energy Innovation advisory mandate to create a low-carbon, multi-fuel, multi-modal energy hub, future-proofing the airport’s infrastructure. 

"We are currently working with the airport on additional on-site energy solutions, including the rollout of EV charging and green hydrogen production, with low-cost, private wire solar energy as the enabler."