Billed as the largest airport project worldwide, Suntech modules have been used on an 8.05MW Athens International Airport PV project, which is designed to provide approximately 20% of the airport authority electricity needs and 9% of airport community needs. The project was built by Biosar using approximately 28,750 of Suntech’s STP 280-24/Vd modules.
The project was developed on a 160,000 square metre area within the airport site and was finished in July 2011. The PV park is projected to produce 11 million kWh annually, and is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 10,000 tonnes / year, for a period of at least 25 years.
AIA’s CEO, Dr. Yiannis Paraschis, said “Having started in 2003, we have to date achieved a significant reduction in the company’s electrical consumption by more than 25%. For the future, within the framework of our actions against climate change, we are exploring the possibility of using other alternative or renewable energy sources such as geothermal energy and cogeneration, targeting a further reduction of the airport’s carbon footprint, based on the principles of energy effectiveness”.