JFK’s New Terminal to Use Solar Power for 50% of Energy Needs

Developers of the new international terminal at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) are set to implement solar power to meet 50% of the terminal’s daily energy requirements. Construction of a large solar array on the terminal’s roof began on September 24, 2023, as part of JFK’s massive $19 billion renovation.

The solar array will feature 13,000 solar panels covering over 2,100 feet. The project is led by Ferrovial, a global airport developer, along with a private consortium called New Terminal One (NTO). NTO is privately financing and overseeing the construction of the terminal, which started in 2022. The first phase, costing $9 billion, is the most expensive part of JFK’s redevelopment and will make the new terminal the largest at the airport.

Scheduled to open in mid-2026, the terminal will host around 30 international airlines, with Air France and LOT Polish Airlines already on board.

The solar power system will generate 6.63 megawatts, contributing to a 12-megawatt microgrid that will distribute power from solar panels, fuel cells, and batteries. This localized energy system is designed to operate independently or in connection with the main power grid. According to a statement from NTO and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the rooftop solar array will be the largest at any U.S. airport.

NTO holds a lease agreement with the Port Authority that runs through 2060, and Massachusetts-based microgrid integrator AlphaStruxure will manage the construction and operation of the energy system. AlphaStruxure, a joint venture between Schneider Electric and the investment firm Carlyle, will be responsible for long-term guarantees on pricing and performance for the terminal’s energy system.

“To power up to 50% of our operations with solar energy significantly advances our sustainability goals while enhancing the resiliency of this critical infrastructure,” said NTO CEO Jennifer Aument in a briefing with reporters.

AlphaStruxure CEO Juan Marcias emphasized the importance of efficiency, stating, “We deliver power into the airport distribution system and can supply up to 50% of the terminal’s load. Additionally, we capture waste heat and provide chilled and hot water to optimize system efficiency.”

Aument further explained that once the terminal begins operations in 2026, solar energy will be integral to daily operations, powering half of the terminal’s energy needs. Marcias added that AlphaStruxure has a service agreement to provide this capacity, with the remaining energy supplied by the Port Authority and local utilities.

The new international terminal at JFK is a key part of the airport’s ongoing modernization, aiming to improve sustainability and operational resilience while supporting the growing number of international flights arriving at JFK.