Pittsburgh International Airport announced an expansion of its solar field as part of the airport’s clean energy plans. 

The expansion will add 11,216 high-efficiency solar panels to the airport’s existing solar field, enabling the generation of an additional 4.7 megawatts of clean energy and reducing carbon emissions by approximately 5 million pounds annually. 

The electricity generated from the new solar field will be supplied to the regional electric grid, providing the region with additional renewable energy.

The airport signed a power purchase agreement with Duquesne Light Company’s (DLC), boosting local energy production while making clean energy more accessible for the Pittsburgh region.

The solar expansion is the latest energy initiative at the airport that maximizes the use of its property and builds upon the existing microgrid. The solar expansion is scheduled to be completed in 2027 and will be located adjacent to the existing solar panels just off of the airport’s exit from I-376.

The new solar project complements the airport’s existing 8-acre solar array by adding an additional 12 acres atop a closed landfill. The original acreage contains nearly 10,000 solar panels that was part of the airport’s 23-megawatt microgrid project. It was launched in 2021 as the first to completely power an airport through natural gas and solar energy.

“Pittsburgh International Airport is an energy leader, and we are thrilled to partner with Duquesne Light Company and IMG for this important regional project,” said Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis in a statement. “We are maximizing the use of airport assets for the betterment of the region – from air service to real estate development to energy innovation and there’s more to come.”

The expanded solar field will be owned and operated by IMG Energy Solutions, a Liberty Energy company, with a commitment to supply 100% of its generated energy along with renewable energy credits to DLC.