Summary
Birmingham Airport partnered with EvoEnergy at the earliest stage of its renewable energy journey, seeking expert consultancy to understand how solar PV could support its Net Zero 2033 ambitions. With no defined system size, location, or delivery strategy, EvoEnergy conducted a full feasibility assessment across the airport’s estate, identifying the most viable solution and progressing it through to detailed design.
This consultancy-led approach enabled the delivery of a 6.89 MWp airside ground-mounted solar PV system—now the largest of its kind in the UK, supplying up to 20% of the airport’s electricity demand and establishing a blueprint for renewable deployment across complex infrastructure.
The challenge
At the outset, Birmingham Airport had a clear ambition to reduce its carbon emissions but lacked the technical clarity required to move forward with confidence. The estate presented multiple potential opportunities for solar PV, but each came with significant constraints, and there was no clear understanding of which option would be viable from a technical, regulatory, or commercial perspective.
Operating within a live aviation environment introduced a unique layer of complexity. Any proposed system had to comply with strict Civil Aviation Authority safeguarding requirements, including detailed glint and glare assessments to ensure there would be no impact on pilot visibility or air traffic control. In addition, electromagnetic frequency compliance had to be carefully considered to avoid interference with critical airport systems.
Many of the most attractive sites from a generation perspective were ultimately constrained by these aviation requirements. Rooftop solar, for example, was ruled out entirely due to glint and glare risk. Other areas were unsuitable due to proximity to runways, poor ground conditions, or conflicts with future development plans outlined in the airport’s long-term masterplan.
Grid integration posed a further challenge. Export limitations under G100 regulations and the complexity of integrating with existing electrical infrastructure meant that early-stage decisions around system size and location would have long-term implications on both performance and cost.
Without a structured consultancy approach, the airport risked progressing with an unviable site, facing delays through redesign, or investing in a solution that could not be delivered within regulatory constraints or required timelines.
Our Solution
EvoEnergy provided a fully integrated consultancy service, combining technical, commercial, and strategic expertise to guide the project from concept through to a procurement-ready design. As part of our consultancy approach , we began with a comprehensive feasibility study covering all land and building assets across the airport.
Using detailed irradiance modelling, energy yield simulations, and multi-criteria analysis, we assessed each potential site against key factors including aviation safeguarding, grid connectivity, constructability, and alignment with future development plans. This allowed us to rapidly filter out unviable options and focus on a shortlist of deliverable solutions.
Image credit: Birmingham Airport / birminghamairport.co.uk
We then undertook a programme of detailed site investigations, including electrical network assessments, topographical and geotechnical surveys, soil resistivity testing, and utilities tracing. Early engagement with the grid operator ensured that G99 and G100 requirements were fully understood from the outset, avoiding future connection delays and informing system design decisions.
A critical part of the process was the glint and glare assessment, which ultimately eliminated several high-yield sites. Rather than pursuing theoretical maximum output, EvoEnergy took a pragmatic approach, identifying a location that balanced compliance, constructability, and speed of delivery. Although this site was not the most advantageous in terms of pure generation potential, it represented the lowest-risk and fastest route to implementation.
Alongside technical design, we provided guidance on capital expenditure, system performance, and delivery strategy, as well as supporting the development of a procurement-ready RIBA Stage 4 design. Our in-house capability across consultancy, design, and delivery meant that all considerations — from grid constraints to construction logistics — were fully integrated from the outset.
This approach not only de-risked the project but also gave Birmingham Airport the confidence to proceed without a lengthy external procurement process, ultimately appointing EvoEnergy directly for delivery.
The Result
EvoEnergy’s consultancy transformed Birmingham Airport’s initial ambition into a fully realised, high-impact infrastructure project. By identifying the right solution early and resolving key constraints upfront, we enabled the client to accelerate delivery by several months, avoid costly redesigns, and significantly reduce procurement complexity.
The result is a 6.89 MWp airside ground-mounted solar PV system, completed in 2023 and now recognised as the largest of its kind in the UK. The system generates over 5 million kWh of clean electricity annually, supplying up to 20% of the airport’s total demand and reducing carbon emissions by more than 1 million kilograms each year.
Beyond the immediate project, EvoEnergy’s consultancy created a roadmap for future development across the airport’s wider estate. Several additional sites were identified during the feasibility stage, providing the client with a pipeline of opportunities to further expand their renewable energy capacity.
Most importantly, the project demonstrates the value of early-stage consultancy in complex environments. By combining strategic insight with technical expertise, EvoEnergy enabled Birmingham Airport to move from uncertainty to delivery with confidence, setting a new benchmark for how critical infrastructure can transition to low-carbon energy systems.