Indianapolis International Airport Adds Solar Canopies to Parking Facilities

Indianapolis International Airport is installing 10,701 solar panels across several areas of the airport as part of a wider programme aimed at strengthening energy resilience and reducing reliance on conventional power sources.

A substantial part of the development will take place within the airport’s parking facilities. Solar canopies are being constructed above the surface parking area, where the electricity generated will be stored in batteries and used to supply approximately 10% of the terminal’s energy requirements.

The airport’s parking garage will also receive a solar canopy and battery storage system. Once operational, the installation is expected to provide around 90% of the electricity needed to run the garage. In addition to generating renewable energy, the panels will create a covered upper parking level where no roof was previously available, said Todd Cavender, Indianapolis Airport Authority Director of Environment and Sustainability.

Further improvements are being introduced on the airfield. Cavender stated that the projects are designed to ensure that essential airport operations can continue during power disruptions or emergency situations, while also increasing the use of locally generated clean energy.

The rescue and firefighting facility installation is scheduled for completion in October 2026, followed by the parking garage project by the end of December. Work on the terminal and surface parking energy system is expected to conclude in spring 2027.

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