Development of New York State’s largest onsite solar generation and storage system at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport marks a pivotal step for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) in achieving their strategic energy and sustainability objectives.
Faced with the need to reduce energy consumption, enhance energy resilience, and contribute meaningfully to New York’s clean energy transition, these entities partnered with TotalEnergies to build a 12 MW solar carport, strategically located within one of JFK’s long-term parking lots, complemented by an additional 7.5 MW of battery storage.
“This is the biggest individual project we have contributing to our goals. We’re aiming to reach 50 percent decarbonization by 2030, full net zero by 2050,” said Scott Kessler, program director, office of sustainability at PANJY. “It is the central piece to us becoming a leader in airport sustainability.”
Engineered to optimize energy usage and minimize JFK’s reliance on the grid during high-demand times, this carport and battery system will offset more than 6,000 tons of emissions annually – the greenhouse gas equivalent of 26 million miles driven by gas-powered passenger vehicles.
The first part of the project is focused on powering JFK’s the AirTrain rail link, an 8.1 mile-long rail system connecting the airport to greater New York City. The remaining clean energy output will be channeled directly into the local utility system to provide homes in nearby neighborhoods with discounts on their monthly energy bills.
Customer:
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA)
Location:
Queens, New York
System Size:
12 MW solar; 7.5 MW battery storage
Installation Type:
Solar carport
Notable Benefits:
Estimated to offset more than 6,000 tons of emissions annually by reducing grid-tied energy consumption during peak hours