In 2018, the airport announced plans to construct its own microgrid, using natural gas and solar power as the primary power source for the airport,Construction begins on Pittsburgh International Airport microgrid protecting it from power outages.PIT Will Be First Major U.S. Airport Powered Entirely by Microgrid In 2019, the airport authority awarded Peoples Natural Gas a 20-year contract to build, maintain, and operate the microgrid at no cost to the airport in exchange for the required land and an agreement to purchase the electricity for 20 years.PIT Becomes First Airport to Power Itself with Natural Gas, Solar The microgrid was completed in July 2021, making Pittsburgh the first airport in the world to receive its electricity entirely from a microgrid.Pittsburgh International Airport Completes Gas- And Solar-Powered Microgrid The microgrid uses natural gas from the Marcellus Shale as well as solar panels. Most of the energy comes from natural gas; the 9,360 solar panels can generate up to 13% of its peak power.Pittsburgh Airport’s Microgrid Is A Worthy But Tough To Duplicate Example Of Resiliency In its first year, the microgrid saved the airport an estimated $1 million in energy costs.How a microgrid saved Pittsburgh International Airport $1 million
