Frankfurt Airport has begun operating a 2.8-kilometer-long vertical solar system on its west runway. The system, developed and implemented by the German company Next2Sun, is made up of 37,000
Solar system adapts to the terrain and protects biodiversity
One of the main advantages of this technology is its vertical design with an east-west orientation, which makes it possible to take advantage of time slots complementary to those of traditional systems. In this way, the electricity generation is stabilized throughout the day, benefiting demand management and grid integration.
During the construction phase, specific measures were taken to protect local biodiversity. The construction schedule was designed in collaboration with the environmental authorities, respecting the nesting and reproduction periods of species present in the airport’s green areas.
Direct applications and sustainable objectives
The energy generated will be used mainly for air conditioning systems and to power the airport’s fleet of electric vehicles. This initiative is in line with Fraport AG’s sustainability strategy. Fraport AGs sustainability strategy, which aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2045.
Next2Sun, specializing in vertical bifacial solutionsemphasizes the scalability of this type of system for multiple uses. From transportation corridors to agricultural land, its application is versatile and allows for efficient integration without competing for land use. The company’s CEO, Heiko Hildebrandt, emphasized the role of this installation as a reference for future implementations in complex environments.
Source and photo: Next2Sun
