The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi will be the first in India to use a combination of hydro and solar power.
Since June 1, IGI has been the country’s second airport to run entirely on renewable energy. Kerala’s Cochin International Airport became the world’s first to run entirely on solar energy in 2015.
IGI’s operator, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), set a target of zero carbon emissions by 2030 last November. As of now, it sources a major chunk of its energy needs through the hydro route.
Since June 1, onsite solar power plants have met approximately 6% of its requirements. On the airside, the airport now has a 7.84 MW solar power plant, and the cargo terminal has an additional 5.3 MW.
The solar plants are located on the airside and roofs of the IGI airport’s cargo terminals. DIAL has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with a Himachal Pradesh-based hydropower producing company for hydroelectricity supply to the airport until 2036.
IGI’s decision followed a global trend. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) approved a resolution last October requiring the aviation industry to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“This commitment will be consistent with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius,” IATA stated.
IGI is well on its way to meeting the stated target well ahead of the global deadline. DIAL recently implemented a green transportation programme to accomplish this.
