AGS Airports has unveiled its Horizons sustainability strategy as a 10MW solar farm at Glasgow Airport begins generating around 25% of the airport’s onsite electricity demand. The farm is expected to save about 1,100 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent a year and is the first major delivery milestone under the group’s 2035 net zero commitment.

AGS Airports operates Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports and is majority owned by AviAlliance, with Blackstone holding a 22% minority stake. The group reported revenue of £229 million and adjusted EBITDA of £83 million for 2025, serving 11.4 million passengers. The solar farm was developed with energy transition adviser Ikigai Group and funded and delivered by Zestec Renewable Energy, which will manage the infrastructure long term.

The structural driver is the fully funded onsite solar model, which lets airports generate their own power without committing capital. Zestec carries the cost of building the 14,300-panel array on Glasgow Airport land, and AGS Airports takes the electricity to reduce its reliance on the grid.

Horizons sets out ambitions across four pillars: achieving net zero, supporting communities, supporting people and innovation. AGS Airports has reaffirmed its aim to reach net zero for its own emissions by 2035, and the solar farm delivers its target of generating 25% of onsite energy renewably at Glasgow by the end of 2026.

Attention now turns to replicating the model at Aberdeen and Southampton. The company also wants to help deliver the UK’s first scheduled zero-emission passenger route, having supported flights across Scotland earlier this year by BETA Technologies’ all-electric ALIA aircraft, which showed zero-emission aircraft could operate from existing airport infrastructure.

Fiona Smith, executive director of ESG and sustainability at AGS Airports, said “meaningful progress can only be achieved through collaboration.” Kam Jandu, chief executive, said “by generating clean energy onsite, we are reducing our carbon footprint, strengthening our energy resilience and creating long-term value for the airport and the communities we serve.”

For the sector, Glasgow shows airport operators using third-party funded solar to hit onsite renewable targets, with the same model now being considered at two more airports in the group.

Source: futuretravelexperience.com / scottishfinancialnews.com