On Aug. 18, the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL)—India’s fourth largest airport – revealed the world’s first 100% solar powered airport. The airport already had a 12 mega watt (MW) solar power project producing which can produce 4,000 units of electricity daily.
With its newly revealed solar plant, the airport can now produce 60,000 units of electricity every day, far exceeding their daily needs. The new solar power plant has 46,150 solar panels across 45 acres of land near the Airport. That;s the equivalent to 45 football fields! It now supplies the airport with 50,000 to 60,000 units of electricity per day, making the airport “absolutely power neutral”, according to a statement released by CIAL.
“Over the next 25 years, this green power project will avoid carbon dioxide emissions from coal fired power plants by more than 3 metric tons, which is equivalent to planting 3 million trees or not driving 750 miles,”
From CIAL Statement
The New 45 Acre Solar Plant
Photo: Cochin International Airport Limited
The new plant is expected to generate 18 million units of solar power annually, that is the same amount it would take to supply approximately 10,000 homes for a year. The solar project is expected to offset carbon emissions by more than 300,000 metric tons over the next 25 years.
Cochin International is the busiest and largest airport in the state of Kerala and the third busiest in India. More than 3,750,000 passengers passed through the airport in 2013 and 2014.
