This Hampshire air traffic control centre just switched on more than 5,500 solar panels
“This project is another important milestone in reducing our carbon emissions”
More than 5,500 solar panels have gone live at an air traffic control centre - making a huge step towards making the site carbon neutral.
At the Nats centre in Sopwith Way, Swanwick, 5,760 solar panels have been activated on leased land adjacent to the operations centre, beside the River Hamble.
Alongside the 2,606 panels on the roof of the building, it’s expected to generate around 3.3m kWh of renewable electricity each year, supplying almost a fifth of the centre's annual electricity demand.
That is enough renewable electricity each year to power the equivalent of around 1,200 average UK homes, according to Nats.
Tim Bullock, director of supply chain, property and facilities management, said: “This project is about much more than installing solar panels. It’s about changing the way we power one of the UK’s most important pieces of transport infrastructure.
“With volatile energy markets, investing in self-generation reduces both cost risk and reliance on fossil fuels. The new Swanwick ground array will generate millions of kilowatt hours of renewable electricity each year, reducing our dependence on grid electricity while supporting our carbon negative ambition.
“I’d like to thank everyone involved in bringing this project to life, from our engineering and estates teams to our delivery partners. Their expertise, commitment and collaboration have been instrumental in making this investment a reality and helping us take another important step towards our sustainability ambitions.”
Ian Jopson, sustainability director at Nats, added: “We’re proud that this investment is being made here in Hampshire, supporting our journey towards net zero while demonstrating that critical national infrastructure can play its part in the UK’s transition to cleaner energy.
“This project is another important milestone in reducing our carbon emissions while building a more resilient and sustainable energy future for Nats.”
Nats Swanwick is one of two air traffic control centres in the UK, covering 200,000 square miles over England and Wales, including the skies above London.
The company says that this new solar installation will help ensure the infrastructure is powered more sustainably for years to come and supports Nats’ commitment to becoming a net zero emissions company by 2035 and carbon negative by 2040.