Largest airport solar array in U.S. is being built for John F. Kennedy International Airport

Credit: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) has begun construction of a 12-megawatt energy system to help power its new Terminal One. There will be 13,000 Solar Panels on the terminal roof to cover the area. It will be the largest solar array in New York City and the largest at any airport in America. This construction fits into JFK’s $19 billion plans to transform the airport into a green world-class global gateway that will include two new terminals.

“This construction milestone in our redevelopment of John F. Kennedy International Airport represents more than progress at one of our facilities because its success will set an industry example for others,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “On-site green energy development such as the country’s largest airport solar array will reduce the generation of greenhouse gases that cause climate change at the New Terminal One.”

How will the solar array work?

The 6.63 megawatts of solar array on the terminal’s roof is part of a 12-megawatt microgrid that will distribute electric energy from solar, fuel cells and batteries through a localised and self-contained energy system that can operate independently from or connected to the main power grid. This microgrid will also include 3.84 megawatts of fuel cells and 1.5 megawatts/3.34 megawatt-hours of battery energy storage, all of which will be located in four clusters of electrical generation infrastructure strategically placed around the new terminal to create a single smart, resilient energy system. It will provide power for the terminal’s daily operations.

The microgrid will recover heat from the fuel cells to generate chilled water and hot water for the terminal. Its capacity generates enough electricity to power half of the everyday operations of the terminal, or roughly the energy to power more than 3,500 average U.S. homes. AlphaStruxure is financing the microgrid project through an Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) contract, which is a long-term agreement ensuring predictable operating costs and guaranteed performance without upfront capital expenditures to neither the Port Authority nor New Terminal One. AlphaStruxure is responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of the microgrid over the life of the contract.

 “When it comes to energy, airports are facing a perfect storm: More passengers, more electrification, more outages, and more power capacity bumping up against ageing energy infrastructure that’s less and less able to keep up,” said Juan Macias, CEO of AlphaStruxure. “JFK’s New Terminal One is building sustainable energy infrastructure at the speed and scale necessary to stay ahead of these challenges. We’re thrilled to provide an integrated microgrid solution via Energy as a Service that not only provides resilience for New Terminal One passengers, but advances the city, state and Port Authority’s ambitious decarbonisation goals.”

“When the new terminal is complete, it will be the largest terminal at Kennedy Airport, so we are particularly pleased to incorporate on-site power using a green energy source into the design of the terminal,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “We have made sustainability a major priority at our facilities, and this massive solar array is a unique and innovative solution that reduces our carbon footprint and continues our march towards net zero.”

“Breaking ground on this first-of-its-kind microgrid solution is a major and exciting milestone in New Terminal One’s commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and setting a new industry standard on sustainability,” said Jennifer Aument, CEO of New Terminal One.