Potential Energy Generation of Photovoltaics With Acceptable Risk at Korean Airports

The aviation industry is adopting renewable energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One of the strong candidates to meet the energy demand of airports with a sustainable way is photovoltaic (PV) systems. This paper systematically assesses the potential risk and energy generation capabilities of installing PV at nine Korean airports. It was found that the risk of PV, particularly concerns about glare and severity of collision accident, is lower than other renewable energy sources. These remaining safety issues of PVs can be mitigated to acceptable levels by maintaining a safe distance from aircraft routes (105 m) and rotating them to face opposite possible routes. The safety management of airport PV ensures to utilize glare-free solar energy harvesting systems throughout the year. Under this safe scenario, the estimated energy generation would be 1.78 ± 0.17 times higher than the energy demand of the airports. Notably, the surplus energy generation by PVs located at smaller airports can offset energy demand of larger international airports. The estimated levelized cost of energy for PVs with acceptable risk is 64.7 ± 0.1 $/MWh, lower than the cost of energy supplied by an external source (103.4 ± 32.7 $/MWh). These findings suggest that PV installations with acceptable risk can significantly contribute to the energy self-sufficiency and sustainability of airports in South Korea.