Pittsburgh Airport’s Solar Revolution: 11,000+ New Panels To Electrify Regional Grid

A mammoth undertaking of solar proportions is underway at Pittsburgh International Airport. Officials announced this April that they’re doubling down on solar power with a massive expansion set for 2025. Envision this: 11,216 shiny new panels sprawling across 12 acres. Not too shabby for an old landfill that couldn’t be used for anything else.

Pittsburgh Airport’s solar revolution transforms unused landfill into a clean energy goldmine—12 acres of innovation taking flight.

The airport isn’t new to the solar game. They’ve already got 10,000 panels generating 3 megawatts of power. Been saving them a cool million bucks annually since 2021. This expansion? It’ll add another 4.7 megawatts to the mix. Do the math.

Unlike the current setup that powers airport operations directly, these new panels will feed straight into the regional grid. It’s a partnership between the airport, IMG Energy Solutions, and Duquesne Light Company. This collaboration marks DLC’s first power purchase agreement for clean energy. IMG will own it. Duquesne will buy the juice. Everyone wins.

The environmental impact is nothing to sneeze at. Five million pounds of carbon emissions avoided each year. That’s a lot of pollution not happening. The whole thing should be up and running by 2027, turning a 20-acre patch of otherwise useless land into a clean energy powerhouse. With the cost reductions in solar technology over the years, projects like this are becoming increasingly economical for public infrastructure.

Airport CEO Christina Cassotis is pretty clear about the strategy: use what you’ve got. With 8,800 acres of property, the airport’s just getting started. They’re even working on producing sustainable aviation fuel on-site—a first for major airports.

County Executive Sara Innamorato is all in, praising the project as a step toward a sustainable future. Can’t argue with that logic. The airport’s already energy independent with its 23-megawatt microgrid system—the main power grid is just their backup plan now.

Bottom line: Pittsburgh International is turning trash land into treasure, one solar panel at a time. Who knew airports could be this green? Pittsburgh did, apparently.