İGA Istanbul Airport has become the world’s first mega airport to meet all of its electricity needs from solar energy thanks to its massive Solar Power Plant (SPP) investment commissioned in Eskişehir.
Reshaping the sustainability race in the global aviation industry, İGA Istanbul Airport has crossed a historic threshold in energy transformation. Thanks to the giant Solar Power Plant (SPP) established in Eskişehir with an installed capacity of 240 MW, İGA earned the title of the world’s first mega airport to supply all the electricity used in its operations from renewable energy sources.
The official opening of the Eskişehir SPP, established on an area of approximately 3 million square meters with an investment cost of 220 million euros, was held in Ankara as part of the “2025 Renewable Energy Investments Collective Opening Ceremony” attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar.
A New Center of Energy Transformation in Aviation
Having long positioned sustainability at the center of its operations, İGA Istanbul Airport has redefined not only its own energy transformation but also sustainability standards in the global aviation industry with its Eskişehir SPP investment.
With a total installed capacity of 240 MW, the facility stands out as one of the largest renewable energy investments in the global aviation sector. Thanks to the project, all operational electricity consumption of the airport is supplied from solar energy.
A Critical Threshold in the 2050 Net Zero Target
As of 2026, İGA has started operating entirely with green energy, gaining a significant advantage in its 2050 Net Zero Emission targets.
While the company is said to have moved ahead of many major airports in Europe on its sustainability roadmap, it was stated that the current progress rate is 30-40 percent ahead of the targeted transformation plan.
“This Is a First in Aviation History”
İGA Istanbul Airport CEO Selahattin Bilgen stated that the Eskişehir SPP investment is not only an energy production project but has also become a symbol of transformation in the aviation industry.
Bilgen made the following remarks:
“As of 2026, we have reached the point where we meet all electricity consumption within our areas of responsibility from solar energy. This means that one of the world’s largest airports is meeting 100 percent of its electricity demand with renewable energy. This is a first in aviation history.”
212 Thousand Tons of Carbon Emissions to Be Prevented Every Year
İGA’s massive energy investment also stands out with its environmental impact. The company aims to prevent approximately 212,800 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year thanks to the Eskişehir SPP.
It was stated that this figure would provide environmental benefits equivalent to the carbon absorption capacity of approximately 517 million Turkish red pine trees over the plant’s 25-year economic lifespan.
A Model Example from Türkiye to the World
The energy model of İGA Istanbul Airport draws attention not only with its scale but also with its implementation method. Instead of installing panels on terminal roofs, İGA switched to remote renewable energy use through the power plant established in Eskişehir, becoming the world’s first mega airport to implement this model.
The system, implemented thanks to the infrastructure provided by Türkiye’s advanced energy legislation, is considered a new reference model for the aviation and energy sectors.
Renewable Energy Target Increased
İGA Istanbul Airport also raised its previously announced 2030 renewable energy target from 50 percent to 90 percent.
In the company’s growth strategy, not only capacity increase but also carbon reduction, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability criteria now play a decisive role.
