Kochi : 1st airport in the world to run completely on solar power

[third eye]

Kochi: Scripting a new chapter, the Cochin International Airport in Kochi on Tuesday became the first in the world to operate completely on solar power.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated the 12 MWp solar power plant, comprising 46,150 solar panels laid across 45 acres near the cargo complex, at a function at the airport Tuesday morning.

Solar-powered Kochi Airport. Facebook/Oommen Chandy

With this, the airport will have 50000 to 60000 units of electricity per day to be consumed for all its operational functions, which technically makes the airport 'absolutely power neutral,' Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) said in a release, adding, it is the first airport in the world to operate completely on solar power.

CIAL had ventured into the Solar PV sector during March 2013, by installing a 100 kWp solar PV Plant on the roof top of the Arrival Terminal Block. This was a trendsetter in the field of grid-connected solar PV in Kerala.

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

A total of 400 polycrystalline modules of 250Wp with five numbers of 20kW capacity 'Refu-sol make string inverters' were used in this plant. It is a grid connected system without any battery storage.

After the successful commissioning of this plant, CIAL installed a 1 MWp solar PV power plant partly on the roof top and partly on the ground in the Aircraft Maintenance Hangar facility within the airport premises.

This plant was installed by Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Pvt. Ltd. 4000 monocrystalline modules of 250Wp with 33 numbers of 30kW capacity Delta make string inverters were used in this plant, which is the first Megawatt scale installation of solar PV system in Kerala, the release said.

Both these plants are equipped with a SCADA system, through which remote monitoring is carried out.

After commissioning, these plants have so far saved more than 550 MT of CO2 emission contributing to the efforts of CIAL towards minimising environmental degradation, CIAL said.

 

[Providence]

Momentous achievement.

However, the airport per my guess would be relatively smaller one. A huge one like JFK or Heathrow cannot run on solar power.

 

[kadamba-warrior]

Momentous achievement.

However, the airport per my guess would be relatively smaller one. A huge one like JFK or Heathrow cannot run on solar power.

Why doesn't somebody come up with "Solar roads" for taxi ways and other utility roads in the airports (if not the primary runways themselves)?

With vast stretches of open grounds/roads, they are wasting too much prime real estate in the airports. At the very least, these "Solar Roads" could light themselves up at night.

 

[Taygibay]

Link please @third eye

Tay.

 

[third eye]

Link please @third eye

Tay.

Chandy inaugurated the 12 MWp solar power plant, comprising 46,150 solar panels laid across 45 acres near the cargo complex.


KOCHI: Scripting a new chapter, the Cochin International Airport here today became the first in the world to operate completely on solar power.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated the 12 MWp solar power plant, comprising 46,150 solar panels laid across 45 acres near the cargo complex, at a function at the airport this morning.



Read more at:
Cochin International Airport becomes world's first to operate on solar power - The Economic Times

 

[Providence]

Why doesn't somebody come up with "Solar roads" for taxi ways and other utility roads in the airports (if not the primary runways themselves)?

With vast stretches of open grounds/roads, they are wasting too much prime real estate in the airports. At the very least, these "Solar Roads" could light themselves up at night.

I know norway is researching on smart roads ! Google it. The idea is a novel one.

 

[kadamba-warrior]

I know norway is researching on smart roads ! Google it. The idea is a novel one.

I know. The link I provided was about Netherlands already doing something like that for bicycle pathways. But I was talking about utilizing the surface are of the airports which are very ideal for something like this.

 

[punit]

is there any back up . .. just in case !

 

[third eye]

is there any back up . .. just in case !

Surely there would be - both Grid supply & Gen set.

 

[Providence]

I know. The link I provided was about Netherlands already doing something like that for bicycle pathways. But I was talking about utilizing the surface are of the airports which are very ideal for something like this.

The fallow land in airport aren't kept like that just because someone thinks it makes architectural brilliance. They are for emergency situations. There will also be pockets of water bodies to allow for belly landing.

 

[kadamba-warrior]

The fallow land in airport aren't kept like that just because someone thinks it makes architectural brilliance. They are for emergency situations. There will also be pockets of water bodies to allow for belly landing.

Oh, I am sure the empty lots are not architectural brilliance. I was only suggesting that the paved taxiways or any utility roads in the airports could be also repurposed as "Solar roads" as well, without anyway hampering their primary role.

But thanks, anyway.

 

[nizamuddin]

nice sharing..... thanks to post

 

[Taygibay]

Thanks third eye, buddy and in exchange, for the others

I know norway is researching on smart roads ! Google it. The idea is a novel one.

here's a link for the Dutch roads :
Netherlands highways will glow in the dark from mid-2013 (Wired UK)
I had posted about it on my blog in late 2012 so it was easy to find.

Strange that we'll soon get intelligent roads though, since the average driver is still not that bright.
Oh! Well!

Good day to good people, Tay.