Aarhus Airport is working on a development project that examines parking areas and building roofs as potential energy centres that can produce green electricity for the airport and businesses in the surrounding area. The project has received support from the Ministry of Business via the Danish Energy Agency and aims to analyse and document new models for energy production, land use and operation.
The project is based on the desire to challenge the common practice of placing solar cell installations in natural areas or on agricultural land. Instead, it is investigating how existing paved areas at the airport can be used more actively. Parking areas and roofs currently constitute surfaces with limited biodiversity and are often referred to as 'dead' CO₂ square metres, as they do not contribute positively to the overall CO₂ balance. The project looks at how these areas can be activated for energy production and thus take on a new function in an overall green transition.
"Aarhus Airport has green ambitions, and we want to optimise the use of our surroundings with respect for nature. The vast majority of our guests arrive at the airport by car, so we need large parking facilities. In this project, we are investigating how these areas can be used more actively in the green transition while also taking into account economics and operations," says Lotta Sandsgaard, CEO of Aarhus Airport.
The development project is being carried out in collaboration between Aarhus Airport, Bjerg Arkitektur, CLT Danmark and DanSolar. The collaboration brings together architectural, technical and energy expertise and aims to highlight the physical, energy and economic consequences of different solution models. The project also includes analyses of the possibility of establishing energy communities where locally produced electricity can be shared between several players in and around the airport.
Total economy, circular economy and operational reliability
As part of the project, a total economy perspective is being applied, where solutions are assessed over their entire lifetime. This involves analyses of operation, maintenance, energy consumption and robustness rather than just construction costs. The aim is to create a solid basis for decision-making that can be used if the project is later to be translated into concrete investments.
A particular focus area is security of supply. The project is investigating how local energy production combined with battery storage can help reduce dependence on the external electricity grid. In an airport environment, where continuous operation is crucial, it is analysing how energy storage can increase robustness in the event of any outages or instability in the electricity supply.
Development project with a broader perspective
The ambition of the project is to develop and document energy models that can contribute to green transition without impacting nature and biodiversity. The experiences should be applicable more broadly and provide inspiration for other contexts where existing infrastructure such as roofs, parking areas, noise barriers and other paved surfaces can be incorporated into future energy solutions.
The project is still in the analysis and development phase. The results will form the basis for any next steps, including decisions on financing and implementation.
