Solar Farm at Blackpool Airport

Initial proposals have been put forward to Fylde Council for a solar farm at Blackpool Airport. The plans are for land south of the main runway.

The proposed 20MVA solar farm would allow the airport to generate its own renewable electricity. It will reduce energy bills and the council’s carbon footprint. Also enabling Blackpool Council to reduce its overall net electricity consumption by up to 75%.

Solar Farm at Blackpool Airport

The power generated from the solar farm will also help equip Blackpool Airport to support the next generation of sustainable hybrid/electric battery powered aircraft.

Additional renewable energy would also support plans for Silicon Sands, a high-performance data centre campus north of the current airfield.

Silicon Sands aims to create a series of renewably powered data centres to create quality jobs on the Fylde coast. The development would also aim to promote carbon friendly data centre practice. It will use liquid immersion cooling, reusing the waste energy in a district heat network.

Tackling the Climate Emergency

Cllr Jane Hugo is Cabinet Member for Climate Change at Blackpool Council. She said: “Tackling the climate emergency is a major priority for Blackpool.

“The Council and its companies own a significant number of buildings and homes. All of which, along with the airport, are large energy consumers. These solar farm proposals would allow us to generate our own green energy. Doing this will reduce our carbon emissions and energy bills considerably. It will also help support our plans to grow the local economy. Providing green energy to data centres and businesses at Silicon Sands. Plus helping the airport to explore the next generation of sustainable aviation.”

A screening application for the solar farm has been submitted to Fylde Council. This could lead to it being operational by the latter end of the decade.

The screening opinion submission to Fylde Council is the first stage of the planning process. This is to determine whether an Environmental Impact Assessment is needed. Residents near the solar farm development will be invited to see the plans in more detail in the coming weeks.

Closure of Runway 13/31

If approved, the solar farm will support Blackpool Airport’s plans to reduce its energy bills. But also make best use of unused and areas of land which are expensive to maintain. This would mean the closure of the smaller 13/31 crosswind runway.

Currently runway 13/31 costs significantly more money to maintain than it generates in aeronautical and commercial revenue. Only 4% of flights were using the runway in 2023. An emerging masterplan for new hangars and aviation facilities closer to the runway also means closing it in the future.

Increased Revenue / Reduced Costs

Steve Peters is Managing Director of Blackpool Airport. He said: “This is an opportunity for the airport to make best use of the land by repurposing it. This way it creates a revenue stream for the airport while reducing our energy bills. Also supporting our ten-year plan to become more financially sustainable.

“Installing solar farms at airports is increasingly common. There are operational farms at Gatwick, Belfast, Southend and Newquay. Plus plans for more at Edinburgh, Glasgow and other airports in the UK and across the world.

“Runway 28/10 at 1,800 metres long provides good capability for a busy airport handling around 40,000 flight movements per year. This move would support our wider plans to improve the airport even further in the coming years.” 

A buffer zone of trees and landscaping would be designed around the southern edge of the solar farm where it meets properties around Leach Lane in Lytham St Annes.

Blackpool Airport is wholly owned by Blackpool Council, which purchased it in 2017. The land sits within Fylde Council’s boundary for planning purposes.

Planning support on the solar farm has been provided by the Enterprise Zone consultants Cassidy + Ashton. Along with feasibility studies from Horizon Power and Energy.