The Cochin International Airport in the South Indian state of Kerala has the honour of being the first airport to run solely on solar power.
Hon.Chief Minister Mr.Oommen Chandy inaugurated the 12 MWp solar power plant, on 18th August 2015, comprising of 46,150 solar panels laid across 45 acres near cargo complex. Now, Cochin airport will have 50000 to 60000 thousand units of electricity per day to be consumed for all its operational functions, which technically make the airport ‘ absolutely power neutral ‘. CIAL ventured into the Solar PV sector in March 2013, by installing a 100 kWp solar PV Plant.
According to a press release, this green power project will avoid carbon dioxide emissions from coal fired power plants by more than 300,000 metric tons, over the next 25 years.
Cochin International Airport was the first airport to be constructed in public-private-partnership model in India. According to its recent annual results, It is also the only airport company that has handled more than five million passengers in a year in Kerala.
