Harnessing solar energy offers a clear financial and ethical benefit for the aviation industry, according to a leading UK GSE manufacturer.
Marc Green, sales director at Newbow Aerospace, said technological advancements within GSE and investment in airport renewable energy infrastructure mean there is more availability of electrically powered equipment, as part of the industry’s transition away from diesel.
The company recently launched the first wheel and brake change trailer with onboard solar power.
Initially designed and manufactured for launch customer, Aer Lingus, to enhance the airline’s night-time line maintenance operation, Newbow’s latest XL trailer eliminates the dependency on being hooked up to a tow vehicle for power, thanks to an ultra-thin and flexible roof-mounted solar panel.
Delivering 130W of renewable power, the solar panel provides more than 12 hours of LED lighting on demand with two-way switches located at the trailer door entry points. Engineers can monitor the trailer’s power reserve from a digital display on the integrated solar panel battery charge controller.
“With environmental targets being set upon airports and airlines to meet sustainability goals of reducing CO2, a zero-emission electric offering within the GSE sector is an important step to help achieve this,” Green told FINN.
“The technology is relatively straightforward to integrate but does require qualified competency within the field of electronics to ensure the necessary compliance and safety protocols are adhered to.
“In addition to the ethical benefits of making a positive contribution to the sector’s collective mission to make aviation more sustainable, the reduced operating costs from harnessing solar energy is a clear financial benefit to operators.
“The industry remains highly challenging economically, so any savings that can be achieved from green innovations are a major bonus.”
Newbow Aerospace topped off a record year of growth in 2023 by achieving approved supplier status from Boeing.
Commenting on the approval, Green said: “The past twelve months for Newbow Aerospace has reflected the continued post-pandemic recovery in commercial aviation, supported by the forecast from IATA, suggesting that some 4.7 billion people are expected to fly this year, which exceeds the pre-pandemic level of 4.5 billion in 2019.
“Coupled with discussions we’ve had with our customers both existing and prospective, we face 2024 with cautious optimism that this upward trend will continue.”
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