Airportto install wind panels
Bosses at Glasgow Airport are part of a new consortium set to harness the unexplored power of wind.
Owner AGS Airports has joined with Katrick Technologies and the University of Strathclyde to form the energy partnership set to advance the transition to carbon net zero and also reduce aircraft noise for nearby communities.
The consortium hopes to spur a faster transition to clean power by exploiting low-level wind energy to develop a new type of technology.
They will support the deployment of renewable technology capable of producing carbon-neutral energy from previously unharnessed power by installing Katrick Technologies’ dual-purpose wind panel and sound barrier.
The device is able to harness ground and lowlevel wind to produce carbonneutral energy.
AGS, which also owns Aberdeen and Southampton airports, has a long-standing commitment to carbon reduction, achieving carbon neutral status in 2020 and launching its Sustainability Strategy pledge this year to reach carbon net zero by the mid 2030s.
The Katrick Technologies wind panels have been designed to tackle decarbonisation challenges common to airport and highway sites, as, unlike traditional wind turbines they can capture wind power, without needing significant height or scale.
Derek Provan, chief executive of AGS Airports, said: “Partnering with technology experts and embracing innovation is essential for AGS to meet its decarbonisation goals.
“Renewable technologies have the potential to power vast amounts of on-site equipment, offset energy costs and reduce the requirement for carbonbased energy supply.
“In addition to supporting our transition to net zero, these wind panels also have the potential to help us manage the impact of airportrelated noise which we know is an important issue for the communities we serve.
“Managing this is an integral part of how we grow our airports responsibly and these panels could also act as noise barriers on our airfields.”
The panels will also be installed on the University of Strathclyde’s estate.
Initial wind-mapping on the sites will kick-off a phased approach for development of the wind panels.