PIT’s Microgrid Turns 2; Other Airports Take Notice

Two years in, the microgrid at Pittsburgh International Airport has saved millions of dollars in electricity costs, boosted resiliency and decreased carbon output, drawing the attention of the aviation industry.

Driving the news: “I’m very happy with where we are. The microgrid has been very reliable,” said Tom Woodrow, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Intelligent Infrastructure. “It saved us a lot of money, and it’s certainly helping us to meet our sustainability goals—providing both an economic and environmental benefit while increasing resiliency.”

• First unveiled in July 2021, the microgrid is the first in the world to completely power a major airport through on-site natural gas and nearly 10,000 solar panels. The microgrid allows PIT to be self-sufficient for power generation and resistant to outages on the traditional grid.
• PIT’s microgrid can produce up to 23 megawatts between its five natural gas-fired generators and solar panels. The solar array is built atop a closed landfill, repurposing land that is otherwise unsuitable for development