In a groundbreaking move to combat climate change and enhance sustainability, Rome’s Fiumicino Airport has officially launched one of the largest solar farms in Europe.
The initiative aims to drastically reduce the airport’s carbon footprint while paving the way for greener, more energy-efficient travel.
The solar farm, located on the airport’s eastern perimeter, is a collaboration between Aeroporti di Roma (ADR), Enel, and Circet.
Stretching over 2.5 kilometers, the installation boasts a peak capacity of 22 megawatts, which will help cut CO₂ emissions by more than 11,000 tons annually.
The farm is made up of nearly 55,000 high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon panels and is expected to significantly contribute to the airport’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2030.
“This solar farm is a giant leap toward the sustainability goals of both Rome Fiumicino and the broader aviation industry,” said Marco Troncone, CEO of ADR. “We are proud to demonstrate that large-scale infrastructure projects like airports can be key players in the fight against climate change.”
The solar initiative is not only a major step for Italy but also sets a global precedent for airports adopting renewable energy solutions.
The project is currently the largest self-consumption photovoltaic system in any European airport and ranks among the largest worldwide.
Furthermore, ADR plans to expand the solar farm’s capacity over the next five years, with an aim to increase it to 60 megawatts by 2030.
The investment is part of a broader €200 million commitment by ADR toward renewable energy and sustainable mobility.
This effort aligns with Italy’s ambitious renewable energy target of adding 35 gigawatts of green energy to the national grid by 2030.
Italian officials have also hailed the project as a model for maximizing the potential of non-agricultural areas to generate renewable energy.
The solar farm has been developed on land that had previously been used for other airport purposes, making it an ideal site for harnessing solar power without compromising valuable agricultural land.
The solar farm’s completion comes as part of an ongoing effort to reduce Fiumicino Airport’s environmental impact, positioning the airport as a leader in the aviation industry’s sustainability efforts.
The airport has already taken several steps in reducing its carbon emissions, including the adoption of electric ground support vehicles and energy-efficient airport terminal designs.
The project also aligns with growing global calls for more sustainable travel. With the aviation sector facing increasing pressure to decarbonize, innovations like Fiumicino’s solar farm are helping to lead the way in setting new benchmarks for green energy use in the industry.
As Europe’s airports look to meet the EU’s ambitious green targets, Fiumicino’s solar farm stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when technology, infrastructure, and sustainability align.
By harnessing the power of the sun, Rome’s Fiumicino Airport has taken a giant step forward in its mission to create a more sustainable and environmentally responsible aviation sector.
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