by Marie Kauna – EMTV Online, Port Moresby
An airport fully operational by solar power has become the first of its kind to open in India.
Owned by a public limited company called Cochin International Airport Limited, Cochin International Airport in Kerala, India, is the largest airport in the state of Kerala and is believed to be the third busiest airport in India.
According to International Passenger Traffic, the airport received more than 3,750,000 passengers between the years 2013 and 2014.
In its sustainable developments, the airport has advanced into using of full solar-powered system for its operations. This development makes Cochin International Airport, the world’s first airport to fully operate on solar power.
A total of 46,150 solar panels have been installed near the cargo area of the airport, which supplies the airport with 50,000 to 60,000 units of electricity per day.
According to the airport, “the new plant is expected to generate 18 million units of solar power annually, an amount that could charge around 10,000 homes in the country for one year.”
The airport is now operating entirely by the sun’s energy and is the first in India to be built via a public private partnership model.
