The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has signed a contract with TotalEnergies to begin construction of New York state’s largest solar carport at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) this year.
This deal corresponds with Newark Liberty International Airport’s (EWR) 5-megawatt (MW) solar project generating 1 gigawatt-hour of power in its first two months of operation. This installation is located at the airport’s new Terminal A parking garage and is currently the largest single solar rooftop project at any US airport.
Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said:The agency recognises the transformative potential of solar energy. We have established a goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. These projects at JFK and Newark Liberty are part of the Port Authority’s aggressive climate action plan to meet the demands of a growing region by embarking on an unprecedented program to build the next generation of world-class infrastructure all while focusing on reducing our environmental impact.
The canopy structure atop the parking garage at Newark Liberty’s new Terminal A was installed by ENGIE North America (ENGIE). It features 12,708 solar panels covering 364,000 square feet.
Similarly, the JFK solar installation will create a carport canopy with solar panels for the southern section of the airport’s Long Term Parking Lot 9, providing covered parking for approximately 3,000 parking spaces.
This 12.3MW solar energy system will include 7.5MW of battery storage to provide enhanced resilience for AirTrain JFK.
Additionally, as part of JFK’s redevelopment, the future New Terminal One will feature a rooftop array and integrated microgrid to help further reduce the airport’s greenhouse gas emissions.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said:New York is taking historic action to combat climate change, from investing in energy affordability to promoting clean air and water to mandating all vehicles sold in New York be zero emission by 2035. The inclusion of a significant solar array as part of the redevelopment of JFK Airport will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, effectively repurpose heat energy for water management, and will limit the carbon footprint at one of the world’s busiest hubs. We will continue working closely together to create a greener future for our communities, our infrastructure, and our planet.
PANYNJ has also installed more than 3,500 solar panels on the rooftop of the newly built parking garage at LaGuardia Airport, which produces more than 1.7 million kilowatt-hours of clean, renewable energy annually.
