What is renewable-energy integration?
Feeding airfield lighting partly from solar and other renewable sources — with the lights, the circuits and the backup power unchanged.
Renewable-energy integration means supplying part of the electrical energy used by airfield lighting from renewable sources such as solar and, where permitted, wind. Solar PV, inverters and energy management, and battery storage feed the airfield’s power system together with the grid, behind the same CCRs, series circuits and lights.
Airfield lighting is a safety system, so renewable supply is added without weakening power continuity: the grid connection and the secondary supply remain, and changeover must stay within the times the requirements set. Because sun and wind vary, storage and control smooth the supply. The CCR still receives ordinary AC power within its input limits, so the series circuit and the light output are unchanged. Panels and turbines must also be sited with glare, height and interference assessed.
- Assess. Establish the airfield’s electrical load and how much renewable supply is sensible.
- Site. Choose locations checked for glare, height limits and interference with navigation aids, radar and visibility.
- Convert. Use inverters and controls that deliver clean AC within the limits of the airfield power system.
- Buffer. Add storage to smooth changes in sun and wind and to carry short gaps.
- Keep backup. Retain the grid and secondary supply, and test that changeover stays within the required times.
- Verify. Monitor supply quality and energy, and confirm the lighting performs exactly as before.
Draws part of its energy from on-site renewable sources and storage, with the grid and secondary supply kept in place.
Draws all its energy from the utility grid, with the secondary supply as backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is renewable-energy integration in airfield ground lighting?
Feeding part of the electrical energy used by airfield lighting from renewable sources such as solar, and in some cases wind, together with the normal supply. The lights, CCRs and series circuits stay the same. What changes is where part of the energy comes from.
Q2Does solar power replace the grid or the standby supply?
No. Airfield lighting is a safety system, so the grid connection and the secondary (standby) supply are kept. Renewable sources are added alongside them, and the changeover to secondary power must still happen within the times required by ICAO Annex 14 and the national regulator.
Q3Does the CCR or the series circuit change when renewable energy is used?
Not in principle. The CCR still receives ordinary AC power and still regulates the circuit current, so the light output of the series circuit is unchanged. The supply from inverters must stay within the CCR’s input limits for voltage, frequency and waveform quality, and this is verified.
Q4How are changes in sunshine and wind handled?
Output from solar and wind varies with the weather, so battery storage and an energy-management controller smooth the supply, and the grid fills any shortfall. The lighting never depends on the weather alone, because the grid and secondary supply remain available.
Q5Can an airport use standalone solar-powered lights?
Yes, for limited uses such as temporary, remote or low-traffic airfields, where a self-contained fixture with its own panel, battery and LED source fits the application. Such fixtures work without a CCR series circuit and must be approved and shown to meet the light output requirements of their intended use.
Q6What must be checked before putting solar panels or turbines on an airfield?
Glare to pilots and the control tower, height against the obstacle limitation surfaces, and interference with navigation aids, radar and visibility. Wind turbines are especially sensitive to height and interference. The regulator’s rules and the aerodrome’s safety assessment decide whether and where they may be placed.
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