Istanbul Airport goes solar
Istanbul iGA Airport has been powering its operations with renewable electricity produced by the Eskişehir solar power plant since 2026. According to the operator, the Turkish airport is the first mega-airport in the world to fully cover its electricity needs through photovoltaics.
The plant, which will come into operation in 2025, has an installed capacity of 240 MW and covers an area of about 3 million square meters. Its construction required a total investment of 220 million euros, making it one of the largest renewable energy projects developed in the airport sector.
In the first five months of operation, the plant produced an amount of energy equivalent to 54% of the airport's annual electricity consumption. As of 2026, production will meet 100% of the airport's operational needs attributed to electricity consumption.
The panels were not installed on the terminal, but at the Eskişehir plant. This choice has made it possible to preserve the architecture and aesthetics of the airport building. In fact, Turkish legislation allows the use of renewable energy generated in a place other than the one where it is consumed.
The project is expected to avoid the emission of around 212,800 tonnes of CO₂ each year. The airport has also reduced direct emissions and those associated with purchased energy by 27.8% compared to the levels recorded in 2019.
The solar power plant represents a central step in the decarbonization program of iGA Istanbul Airport. The manager says it is 30-40% ahead of its roadmap towards its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. At the same time, the airport has raised its renewable energy use target for 2030 from 50% to 90%.
The project reduces the environmental impact of airport operations, from terminal lighting to the facilities and infrastructure required for the day-to-day operation of Istanbul Airport (IST).
