The Copper Development Association (CDA) has published a new case study that examines the proliferation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems being erected at commercial airports worldwide and its potential impact on copper usage.
Vast, open land space at airports provides a significant opportunity for solar energy systems to operate, and have already been installed in India, Africa, the Caribbean and the United States. This renewable energy technology relies on copper’s superior conductivity and efficiency. A solar energy system uses an estimated three to six tons of copper for every megawatt of energy generated. The metal is used to conduct amperes, to connect voltages to the grid and to drive motors that tilt solar panels toward the sun.
“These airport solar installations are an important step in creating a more sustainable world,” said Zolaikha Strong, director of sustainable energy for CDA. “The use of copper in these systems is itself sustainable, because copper is the world’s most recyclable engineering metal. It can be reused after a solar panel has reached its end of life while still retaining its conductivity and durability.”
CDA’s case study provides insight into solar energy installations at airports across the globe, from St. Paul and San Diego to Antigua and India, and the potential market for copper in these systems. Some of these installations include:
- A 6-MWp (megawatt power) solar array installed on the former Palmer Metropolitan Airfield (Massachusetts)
- A 3-MWp solar PV project at San Diego International Airport that will expand to provide 10 to 13 percent of the airport’s power
- A 3-MWp solar plant at Antigua International Airport that meets most of the airport’s electricity needs
As PV solar plants become economically attractive and environmentally desirable, airports and airfields in the U.S. and abroad provide obvious sites. These systems will continue to rely on copper to run efficiently and reliably.
View the case study here.
News item from CDA