KOCHI: Scripting a new chapter in tapping the renewable energy sources and treading a new path in the green drive, the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) is all set to become the first solar-powered airport in the world by commissioning a 12MWp solar power project set up on the airport premises.
CIAL airport director A C K Nair told ‘Express’ that the work on the first solar power station set up at a airport, aimed at achieving power neutrality, has almost been completed and it would be officially commissioned by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy next Tuesday.
The CIAL would now be able to cut carbondioxide emission from coal-powered power plants by 3 lakh metric tonnes over the next 25 years, which is almost equivalent to planting 30 lakh trees or not driving 750 million miles, said CIAL authorities, adding that 18 million units of power to be generated from the sun annually is also equivalent to feeding 10,000 homes every year.
With the commissioning of 12MWp solar power plant, CIAL would become the first airport in the world to be completely powered by solar energy as its entire power requirement of about 5,000 units per day would be met through solar energy generated from these plants.
The CIAL first started treading the green path in 2013 with the setting up of a 100 KW peak solar power plant on the roof of the arrival terminal by installing 400 solar panels, and this was subsequently upgraded to 1,000 KWp during the same year.
Buoyed by the success of this initiative, CIAL set up 12 MWp solar power plants with 46,150 solar panels over an area of 45 acres.
Self-sufficiency on Power front
It is equivalent to cutting around 3 lakh metric carbon dioxide emission from coal powered power plants over the next 25 years, or planting 30 lakh trees or not driving 750 million miles
A 12MW solar power project set up at the Cochin Airport will generate 18 million units of power annually
CIAL’s power requirement of about 5,000 units per day would be met through solar energy generated from these plants
The 12 MWp solar power plant has 46,150 solar panels installed over an area of 45 acres
Bosch Ltd, the company which was awarded the contract, set up at the plant at cost of `62 crore, approximately ` 5.17 crore per MW, in six months