The first ground based, pioneering, renewal energy solar power station on the island of Ireland has been completed close to Belfast International Airport. Lightsource Renewable Energy, Europe's leading solar energy company, has developed and connected Northern Ireland's first ever large-scale solar farm. 

The farm which outputs 4.83 Megawatts peak (MWp), at Crookedstone Road, in Antrim, Northern Ireland, is now connected directly into the private network of the nearby Belfast International Airport. The installation is now providing 27% of the airport's annual electricity demand.

Not being too obvious from the ground, we were previlaged to have been commissioned by "Lightsource Renewable Energy" to produce a series of aerial photographs showing the location and relationship of the solar farm to the International Airport.  From discussions with the client it was very obvious that drone work at this site was out of the question and beyond the capabilities for the copter, due to operating heights.  Working in partnership with the National Air Traffic Service (NATS), we were approved to fly our aircraft within the BIA zone.  We carefully planned for, communicated with, and flew the site all with permissions from Aldergrove ATC during a time suitable to everyone. The result was an incident free safe flight producing a few stunning scenes.

We believe the results were well worth the time, effort and commitment from the team at CWP.