As part of a series of efforts by Airports Authority of India to tap alternative sources of energy, the organisation plans to establish solar power plants at its airports to meet not only its own requirements but also to feed the surplus power generated to the local grid.
An MoU between AAI and Solar Energy Corporation of India was signed in the presence of Ashok Lavasa, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Alok Sinha, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, and Chairman, AAI, and Rajendra Nimje, Managing Director, to establish solar power plants at AAI airports.
AAI plans to install 50-MW capacity plants (cumulative capacity in phase-I) which will be enhanced to 150 MW (cumulative) over a period of time. The plants will be installed on surplus land available with AAI and on large rooftops of AAI’s structures. In all about 30 airports have been identified by AAI for establishment of solar power plants.
Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Lavasa highlighted the importance of tapping solar energy through various outlets including storage of power generated in rechargeable batteries. He also emphasised using the full potential including rooftop surfaces as large areas are available at airports. He stated that utilisation of stored energy in an efficient and effective manner was important and AAI would identify the outlets where the tapped energy could be channelised including other applications of renewable energy for various establishments at airports.
He said that the projects would be accomplished in a time bound manner and the airport-wise specific timelines would be worked out and followed up for effective implementation.
