Kochi gets first fully solar-powered airport in India

Bosch, a leading supplier of technology and services, has commissioned a 12 MW solar project for Cochin worldwide Airport (CIAL).

Cochin global Airport Limited has many firsts to its credit.

In the grid connected system, with no storage in batteries, 46,150 solar photo voltaic panels are spread across 45 acres of land, as well as on its rooftop. Through this project, coupled with an earlier installed capacity of 1.1 MW, CIAL will technically become “grid power neutral”.

A 12MW solar power plant was inaugurated at Cochin worldwide Airport.

But while CIAL generates all the power it requires, it’s not actually self-sufficient.

“Over the next 25 years, this green power project will avoid carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants by more than 300,000 metric tonnes”.

Based on installed capacity, CIAL is the largest project which has been executed by the Bosch Energy and Building Solutions team in India till date, said Steffen Berns, president of Bosch Group India and managing director Bosch Ltd in a press statement.

The new worldwide terminal is being developed at a cost of approximately INR6 billion (US$92 million) and will be able to handle up to 12m passengers per year, with 15 aerobridges.

“Cochin global Airport Limited (CIAL) will have the first solar power station set up on the airport premises, and the entire power requirement of the airport will be met through the energy generated there”. But while it still relies on the traditional power infrastructure, it uses its solar power to pay back every drop of energy it takes.

Minister of Ports K Babu said on the occasion that the airport company has lined up investments worth ₹1,000 crore as part of its development plans and the new global terminal will be ready for operation by May next year.