Kerala is the first State in the country to pioneer the concept of 100% carbon-neutral airport. It has been a decade since Cochin International Airport achieved that feat. But no other airport in the State could switch to 100% green energy. However, 79 airports in other parts of the country have so far switched to 100% green energy.
According to data available with the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), since 2015, the year when Cochin International Airport was declared the first solar-powered airport in the country, 80 airports, approximately 51% of the 157 operational airports in the country, have switched to 100% green energy usage. They include Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad airports, which have achieved Level 4+ and higher Airports International Council (ACI) accreditation and have become carbon neutral.
It took around four years for the second airport in the country to become carbon neutral, when Nashik Airport entered the league in 2019. This was followed by 13 airports becoming carbon neutral in 2021, 15 airports in 2022, 38 airports in 2023, and 12 airports in 2024. These airports have installed solar power plants at various locations to meet the burgeoning demand for green and renewable energy. In addition, a few airports are also procuring green energy through open access.
Green building standards
Other initiatives include the adoption of building design as per green building standards; conversion of conventional vehicles to electric vehicles; and energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting, baggage handling systems and so on. In Kerala, though the Kochi airport set a benchmark in achieving carbon neutrality and net zero emissions, three other international airports in the State are yet to join the league.
The Kochi airport, which began with a 14-megawatt (MW) solar energy plant to meet its energy requirements in 2015, has upgraded its installed capacity to 50 MW in a phased manner.
Other airports in State
Around 80% of the total power consumption of the Calicut airport, which is listed for privatising by the MoCA, is harvested from rooftop green energy. The Kannur airport which began commercial operation in 2018 will set up a 4 MW solar power plant this year, although it requires around 8 MW to meet its energy requirements. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, which was taken over by the Adani Group as part of the privatisation of airports, will soon come up with an ambitious project to become carbon neutral.Â
Published – December 22, 2024 07:39 pm IST