Pittsburgh International Airport first to generate all power by natural gas, solar energy

Pittsburgh International Airport officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday to celebrate the airport’s microgrid, making it the first airport to generate all of its power from natural gas and solar energy.

A total of 9,360 solar panels spread across eight acres will power the complex along with natural gas generated on-site. The microgrid will save on electricity costs and increase the airport’s power resiliency and redundancy.

Power generated by the microgrid will fuel the airport, a Hyatt hotel, and a Sunoco on the campus.

In 2019, the Allegheny County Airport Authority Board of Directors awarded a 20-year contract to Peoples Natural Gas to build, maintain and operate the microgrid for free. As payment, the airport provided the land and agreed to buy its electricity over the contract period.

Construction began last summer, and the project was completed on schedule.

“Not even a pandemic could stop this innovation,” Christina Cassotis, Pittsburgh International Airport CEO, said. “PIT is now one of the most site-hardened public facilities in the world while at the same time becoming more sustainable. That’s a tribute to the innovative culture of our team, and we hope this project can be a model across the industry.”

If an emergency occurs or backup power is needed, the airport will remain connected to the traditional electrical grid.