Daily operations at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) are now powered in part by clean energy produced from a photovoltaic solar system located on the rooftop of the Red Garage.

After years of planning, the system is now fully operational and is producing energy at 100% capacity. It is set to produce up to 1 megawatt per hour and the 40-foot span double-cantilever canopies are built to withstand 140 mph winds, according to a press release by Houston Airports.

What once was unused rooftop space is now a renewable energy asset that provides covered parking for passengers.

“Passengers now park under a structure that shields their cars from the Texas sun while generating clean energy that keeps airport operations running efficiently, lowering overall peak demand electrical costs during the day and our carbon footprint. It’s a win for travelers, the city and the planet,” said Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for Houston Airports in a press release.

Houston Airports partnered with Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, Command Commissioning and CenterPoint Energy to complete the project.

The solar canopy project is only one of several “high-impact energy projects completed in recent years” and marks a major milestone in Houston Airports goal to reduce carbon emissions.

Written by Norma Salcedo