Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) – host of the FTE World Innovation Summit, taking place in Pittsburgh on 13-15 May 2025 – continues to maximise its 8,800-acre campus to drive economic development in the region with a project that will more than double its solar field.
Thanks to its microgrid, the airport can generate its own power while maintaining connection to the main power grid as a back-up. Since the natural gas and solar project was completed in 2021, it has saved the airport more than $1 million per year in electricity costs.
The expansion of PIT’s 3-megawatt solar grid has been announced in partnership with Duquesne Light Co. and IMG Energy Solutions, a Liberty Energy company. Construction is expected to be completed in 2027.
It will add 11,216 high-performance solar panels to the already 10,000 panels atop a closed landfill on airport property. This expansion of the existing 8-acre solar array with an additional 12 acres will enable the generation of an additional 4.7 megawatts of clean energy. The expansion, while not part of the microgrid, will supply energy to the regional electric grid, giving the community additional renewable energy.
“Pittsburgh International Airport is an energy leader, and we are thrilled to partner with Duquesne Light Co. and IMG for this important regional project,” said Christina Cassotis, CEO, PIT. “We are maximising 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 solar expansion is just one piece of PIT’s energy innovation initiatives. The airport also is working on plans to produce synthetic aviation fuel onsite, which could make it the first airport in the world to do so.
“We’ve already set the global standard for resiliency,” said Vince Gastgeb, PIT’s Chief Government and Corporate Affairs Officer. “Projects like this continue to build our credibility in the aviation industry.”
The expanded solar field will be owned and operated by IMG, with a commitment to supply 100% of its generated energy, along with the Renewable Energy Credits, to Duquesne Light.
“This project reinforces our commitment to delivering flexible, high-performance energy solutions that provide reliable, low-emissions power,” said Mike Brady, Vice President of Power Generation Execution at Liberty Energy, which recently acquired IMG.
Brian Guzek, Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Duquesne Light, commented: “These are the kind of public-private partnerships that this region really needs and thrives on. The innovation that we see here at the airport continues to lead not just our region but the entire country and the world.”
Time is running out! With just 1 week to go, now is the time to lock in your spot at the FTE World Innovation Summit (Pittsburgh, 13-15 May 2025) – the can’t-miss event for air transport industry leaders. FREE for airlines and airports, this powerhouse three-day experience brings together 400+ top innovators for cutting-edge conference sessions, immersive workshops, and exclusive tours of Pittsburgh International Airport’s new terminal and innovation hotspots across the city. The speaker lineup? Unmatched. Hear from visionaries at BA, Alaska Airlines, PIT, CMU, Astrobotic, LHR, Boston Dynamics, AMS, SkyTeam, YEG, KLM, YYZ, Frontier, and dozens more shaping the future of air travel. And we’re taking networking to the next level with our epic reception at Cinderlands Warehouse, one of Pittsburgh’s most iconic craft breweries. Don’t get left behind – register now and be part of the revolution.
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