India Racing To 200 Megawatts Of Solar Projects At Airports
India seems well on track to have 200 megawatts of solar power capacity operational at its airports over the next few years.
India’s civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju recently told media outlets that 200 megawatts of solar power capacity is planned for airports across the country. He was speaking at the inauguration of the 15 megawatt solar power project at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata, West Bengal.
With the project, the total solar power capacity installed at government-owned airports increased to 90 megawatts. Capacity at privately-operated airports stands at 45 megawatts, bringing the total national capacity to 135 megawatts and the target of 200 megawatts well within sight.
The Kolkata airport project works on the same principle as the one at the Kochi airport which is the first airport to run only on solar power. Any excess power generated from the solar project will be fed into the grid for additional revenue.
The Kochi airport currently operates a 15.5 megawatt solar power project and plans to increase its capacity in a phased manner to 24.2 megawatts, including a 2.7 megawatt solar-powered carport.
Not just airports, India plans to set up renewable energy projects at its seaports as well. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Shipping announced the ‘Green Port Initiative’ which will see implementation of 91.5 megawatts of solar and 45 megawatts of wind energy capacity. This capacity will be installed at government-operated ports only while privately-operated ports are expected to install additional renewable energy capacity.
The Ministry of Shipping also announced that a feasibility study for a 200 megawatt solar-wind hybrid park has been undertaken at the port of Kandla in the west Indian state of Gujarat.
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