Unconventional solar energy applications are gaining attention as airports seek sustainable solutions that optimize their extensive spaces. At Istanbul Airport, a comprehensive evaluation has prioritized options like solar canopies in parking areas and floating solar farms on reservoirs, which demonstrate promising economic feasibility and minimal operational impact. Experts highlighted that these solutions leverage underutilized airport spaces, contributing to energy independence while reducing carbon emissions.
This study utilized an advanced decision-making framework integrating spherical fuzzy logic with the CRITIC and RATGOS methodologies. This approach objectively assessed the importance of various criteria—including economic, environmental, technological, scalability, and operational reliability—and systematically ranked renewable options based on expert evaluations. The analysis confirms that parking lot solar canopies and solar farm installations on unused land are most suitable for immediate implementation, due to their high trade-off benefits and ease of integration with existing infrastructure.
Implications for Policy and Future Developments
The findings advocate for policy incentives such as feed-in tariffs and public-private partnerships to accelerate deployment. Moreover, incorporating floating PV systems and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) into terminal structures can further enhance energy generation capacities. Future research should include empirical data collection and pilot projects at Istanbul Airport to verify technical assessments and economic benefits, ensuring alignment with global aviation sustainability standards.
These strategic solar solutions are expected to significantly reduce the airport's reliance on grid power, lower operational costs, and support Turkey’s national climate commitments. As airports worldwide adopt such innovations, Istanbul Airport's integrated approach can serve as a benchmark for sustainable aviation infrastructure development.
