India is surging ahead in the field of green energy. India plans to increase its solar power capacity up to 100GW by 2022.
With the ambition to become one of the largest green energy producers in the world and surpass several developed countries, India has built the world’s first fully solar-powered airport.
India’s Cochin International Airport will be completely ‘power neutral.’ Here are some of its features:
- It is forecasted that this project will result in the reduction of 300,000 metric tons in carbon emissions over the next 25 years.
- This new 12 MW solar plant stretches across 45 acres (18.2 ha).
- The solar power plant is made up of more than 46,000 photovoltaic solar panels, which are located in a nearby cargo complex.
- It will generate 18 million units of electricity each year…sufficient to run 10,000 homes.
- The contribution to the environment will be equivalent to planting 3 million trees.
- As per Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), the solar plant will generate 50,000 to 60,000 units of electricity per day, which will be more than enough for all its operational functions…technically making the airport ‘absolutely power neutral.’
- The solar plant has cost CIAL about $10 million.
- The airport will be able to make significant savings after recovering this amount in a span of about five years.
- The airport plans to sell the excess solar power to the local Kerala State Electricity Board.
