London Stansted launches consultation for on-airport solar farm
London Stansted has today launched consultation on plans for the development of an on-airport solar farm.
The proposal is for a 14MW solar farm on land immediately to the east of the airport, and already owned by Stansted. The airport will also implement a series of screening measures such as planting new trees, hedgerow reinstatement and new hedgerows in the event the scheme is successful.
The solar farm is designed to meet the airport’s current energy demands and is in keeping with the airport’s commitment to make its operations net zero carbon by no later than 2038.
The airport’s operation under its direct control – all buildings and airside vehicles – is already carbon neutral through the introduction of a range of energy management measures and sourcing all its electricity from renewable sources since *2013.
The project, if approved, will make the airport’s energy supply more secure, as well as freeing up renewable generation elsewhere on the grid to help the rest of the country decarbonise faster.
Local residents and other interested parties are encouraged to share their views and provide feedback on the plans, and can find full details of the proposal by visiting the Airport’s website: www.stanstedairport.com/community
The consultation will run from Friday 26th November to Friday 24th December. Following this and a thorough review of the feedback, the Airport will submit an application to Uttlesford District Council to seek planning permission for the solar farm. This will then provide a further opportunity to comment on the proposals.
*To compensate for the small amount of remaining and unavoidable emissions, the airport has also purchased verified carbon offsets.