'Unrealised potential' for solar implementation at Australian airports

• Australia's airports have untapped possibility to help the nation's shift to renewable energy, according to a report from scientists at Melbourne's RMIT University.

The study, which was released in the Journal of Building Engineering, declares that setting up solar PV systems on the roofings of 21 Leased Federal Airports (LFAs) in Australia can provide sufficient clean energy to provide 136,000 homes and "considerably" mitigate the nation's power situation.

It stated that, while the household solar market is growing, "large-scale" installations, or those with a capability greater than 100kW, may be much more vital to the nation's power change, including that airports have "been studied to have one of the most possible for these innovations".

The researchers used geospatial technology to contrast the potential efficiency of solar setups at 21 LFAs run by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and also Communications, with 17,000 rooftop setups in the city of Bendigo, Victoria.

They kept in mind that the LFAs' distribution throughout Australia, their increased safety and security and also the fact that they are not covered by neighbouring buildings or forestry create an optimal area for solar PV systems, while additionally reducing the operating expense of the airports themselves.

Brisbane is presently house to Australia's largest airport PV installation, standing at 5.725 MW in capability. However, the scientists located 2.61 km sq of LFA roof space that can create 467GWh of solar electricity yearly, "virtually 10 times greater than the yearly power created with nearly 17,000 installed household solar roof PV panels in the city government area".

The report, they stated, sheds light on "the latent possibility" for advancing solar deployment in Australia with existing infrastructure, and also the results give "assistance to decision-makers and airport authorities in implementing roof solar PV systems within 21 LFAs in Australia".