Dublin Airport Files Plans for Phase Two Solar Farm Expansion

Dublin Airport operator daa has submitted a planning application to more than double its onsite solar energy generation, a move that will allow the hub to generate nearly 30% of its electricity from solar power by mid-2028. If approved, the second phase of the project will significantly accelerate the airport's transition to renewable energy, outpacing its original timeline.

The proposed project involves installing approximately 23,000 solar panels across a 48-acre site on airport land east of the main campus. The 14-megawatt-peak facility is expected to generate 13 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually. That output equates to roughly 17% of the airport's total yearly energy demand, which is enough to fully power Terminal 2 and all airfield lighting.

This expansion builds directly on Phase One, a 15,000-panel installation on 28 acres near the south runway that became operational in late 2024. In 2025, that initial phase supplied 12% of the airport's electricity needs. By combining both solar arrays, the airport will comfortably surpass its previous target of meeting 20% of its power needs through solar energy by 2030.

The planning application also outlines a battery energy storage system (BESS) plant. The storage facility is designed to hold surplus solar generation during peak hours, providing operational resilience and reducing the airport's footprint on Ireland's national grid. Commenting on the strategy, daa Group Director of Sustainability Andrea Carroll noted, "Aviation is one of the hardest industries to decarbonise and all parts of the sector must play their part."

The initiative represents a key element of the operator's plan to slash its direct carbon emissions by 51% by 2030, on the path to reaching net-zero carbon operations by 2050. Supporting the application, Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien said, "Subject to planning permission, Phase 2 will catapult the contribution of renewable solar energy to 30% by mid-2028."

Local planners will now review the application. If Fingal County Council grants permission, the airport expects construction to begin as soon as approvals are finalized, targeting full commercial generation by the middle of 2028.