Africa's first solar-powered airport is now a reality

South Africa has boosted its environmental credentials by launching the continent’s inaugural solar-powered airport.

Situated between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, George Airport will generate 41% of its energy needs through a new 200-square-meter solar power plant installed on-site.

The airport, revealed in April 2016, features 3,000 photovoltaic panels and is set to expand its capacity to provide 750Kw of power once fully operational.

With a construction cost just over a million dollars, this project reflects South Africa’s ongoing commitment to incorporating diverse energy sources across its airports.

Skhumbuzo Macozoma, Chairman of Airports Company South Africa, stated, 'As an organization managing nine airports nationwide, reducing our environmental footprint is a key part of our strategic goals.'

'Solar energy offers a sustainable alternative, helping diversify the energy mix. This plant will ensure the airport meets its own power needs and will eventually benefit the greater George community,' he continued.

George Airport serves the town of George in the Western Cape, nestled in the heart of the stunning Garden Route, renowned for its vibrant greenery and picturesque lagoons.

With more than 600,000 annual passengers, including a significant number of tourists, the airport also plays a vital role in distributing cargo such as flowers, fish, oysters, herbs, and ferns.

This clean energy initiative follows the example set by India’s Cochin International Airport, the world’s first fully solar-powered airport, and the Galapagos Ecological Airport, which began operations in 2012, powered entirely by the sun and wind.

The George Airport project is part of a growing movement toward alternative energy investments aimed at easing the challenges posed by inconsistent electricity supply in many parts of Africa.

An estimated 635 million people, or 57% of Africa’s population, live without access to electricity, with the number rising to 68% in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Last year, a UK start-up partnered with Shell to create a solar-powered football pitch in Lagos, Nigeria. Governments are also increasingly turning to solar energy for large-scale infrastructure projects.