Cochin airport becomes world's first to completely operate on solar power

Kochi: Cochin International airport has become the world’s first airport to be powered completely by solar energy.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Tuesday inaugurated a 12 MW solar power plant at the airport. The plant comprising 46,150 solar panels laid across 45 acres in the cargo complex will enable Cochin airport to have 50,000 to 60,000 units of solar electricity every day for its operations.

Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) first ventured into solar power in 2013 by installing a solar plant on the roof top of the arrival terminal block.

It was a trendsetter in the field of grid-connected solar energy in Kerala as it was a grid connected system without any battery storage.

The plant was installed by the Kolkata-based Vikram Solar Pvt. Ltd.

Over the next 25 years, this green power project will avoid carbon dioxide emissions from coal fired power plants by more than three lakh metric tonnes, which is equivalent to planting 30 lakh trees.