Munich Airport's new Terminal 2 inaugurates largest solar energy plant at any airport worldwide

On July 10, 2003 at Munich Airport new Terminal 2, the largest solar-powered electrical plant at any civil airport worldwide went into operation. Dr. Otto Wiesheu, Bavarian Secretary of State for Economics, Transport and Technology, unveiled the solar energy system's performance display and started its operation. The state-of-the-art system will generate 445,000 kWh per year, enough to cover the yearly electricity needs of about 155 households.

By joining forces in this solar energy project, partners Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Deutsche BP AG, BP Solar, Air BP, B.A.U.M. e.V. and Munich Airport GmbH set a further milestone in sustainable progress. Over the system’s projected 30-year lifespan, it will help spare the environment emissions of about 12,000 tons of carbon dioxide. At the same time, a solar energy system of this size creates seven jobs for one year, all along the production chain from planning, financing, production, installation and operation.

The system, whose investment volume amounted to 2.65 million euros, will be amortized in energetical terms in only two to three years. During its trial run in June, the system’s productive output was 14 percent higher than expected.

Terminal 2's solar energy system is based on network-linked photovoltaic technology, meaning that all the electric energy generated is fed directly into the power supply network. It operates with solar modules featuring polycrystalline cell technology. The modules produce direct current, which the inverters decentrally mounted on the terminal's roof then transform into alternating current (i.e. string technology).

In all, seven operating companies could be convinced to invest in the  photovoltaic system. Collectively, these investors are represented by Andreas Hahn. This concept is akin to the operator models used in wind  power: A limited partnership was set up, in which each individual partner took a share.

Flughafen München GmbH and Deutsche Lufthansa AG built Terminal 2 while sharing entrepreneurial responsibility. With the new building, Munich Airport gains a modern, attractive terminal and additional capacities for about 25 million passengers per year.