Supporting renewable energy, the Airports Authority of India is installing solar PV plants at airports, with 73 having transitioned to green power since 2014, according to the Minister of State for Civil Aviation.
On Thursday, Murlidhor Mohol, the Minister of State, Ministry of Civil Aviation, mentioned in a written statement that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has set up solar power plants at multiple airports to generate and use renewable energy on-site, promoting the adoption of green energy.
He further stated that 73 airports nationwide have switched to 100% green power usage since 2014. Additionally, some airports are sourcing green energy through open access.
It was further highlighted that the Indira Gandhi International Airport of New Delhi has been carbon neutral since 2016, following the aviation ministry’s Airport Carbon Accreditation effort.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation is advancing carbon neutrality at Indian airports by standardising carbon accounting and raising climate change awareness. Last March, the ministry instructed states to include carbon reduction measures in the design, standards, and master plans of new airport projects before submission.
Earlier last month, AAI issued a notice inviting bids for the operation and maintenance of the 2MW rooftop solar project at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. The last day to submit bids was 31 July, which is supposed to open this month. The estimated cost of the project is around 8.7 billion INR.
In March 2024, AAI floated a similar tender for the annual operation and maintenance of a 1.2MW ground-mounted solar PV plant for 2 years at the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi.
