Here, the Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL), achieved yet another milestone: it generated over 25 million units of green energy from different solar PV installations at the airport. This offset 1,60,000 metric tons carbon emissions.
CIAL is the first airport powered entirely by solar energy.
According to the Airport Authority the CIAL achieved a cumulative production volume in excess of 25 million units of solar energy on Saturday, and 75 lakh units through its Small Hydro Electric Project at Arippara.
S Suhas, CIAL’s Managing Director, stated that the airport authority’s development policy includes Total Sustainability Management (TSM), and attempts to find every way to combat climate change.
“We explore all possible ways to combat climate change. CIAL, which was declared power neutral in 2015, now feeds approximately four crore units of excess power each year to the State grid,” Suhas stated in a press release.
CIAL started its solar initiatives in 2013 using a 100kWp Pilot plant. It now has 50 MWp of installed solar power.
CIAL was the first airport in the world to be powered entirely by solar energy, with an installed power of 13.1 MWp. This achievement was achieved in 2015.
CIAL, together with its 4.5 MW Hydroelectric Power Project at Arippara, is now the second largest power producers in Kerala, according to the airport authority.
According to CIAL, the agro-photovoltaic activities that use the spaces between solar panels in the solar plant, have so far produced around 90 metric tonnes pesticide-free vegetables.
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