Cochin Duty Free’s A.S. LAL reports that Cochin International Airport is now the first Indian airport to be totally eco-friendly and powered by solar energy, following last month’s successful installation of a 12 MWp solar plant on 18 August by the privately-owned airport. 

 

He said: “Our operations at Cochin Duty Free will run on electricity produced by solar energy from now onwards.” He added that that Cochin International Airport’s entire daily power requirement (50,000 units a day) will now be met entirely by solar energy, thanks to the installation by Bosch of 46,150 solar panels over an area of 45 acres of land, in a six-month period.

 

This new solar plant is now expected to generate 18m units of power a year, which is said to be enough to feed 10,000 homes for a full 12 months.

 

Commenting on this (hopefully) bright new development, Mr. V.J. Kurian, Managing Director of CIAL, said: “We are spreading our wings to newer skies to realise our ambitious vision of ‘Changing lives through excellence in Aviation and Beyond’, and over the next 25 years.

 

 

“This green power project will save CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants by more than 300,000 metric tons.”

 

Cochin Duty Free’s A.S.LAL said the company salutes Cochin International Airport Ltd for yet another pioneering initiative, with the airport now the first in India to run on solar energy.

 

 

Alpha Kreol India Ltd is a joint venture between UAE-based Kreol Trading and the World Duty Free Group, which, in turn, is now part of Dufry.

 

World Duty Free was the first ‘foreign’ duty free operator to enter the Indian market and Alpha Kreol India has continued to manage Cochin Airport Duty Free on its behalf since its inception.