The First Solar-Powered Airport is Now a Reality

Turning the world 100% renewable is the ultimate goal of solar energy. The best way to achieve that goal is to bring solar into all aspects of our lives. From our backpacks to our sheds to our roads, the world is on its way to becoming a fully solar planet. However, what had not yet been achieved until now is the first solar-powered airport. Cochin International Airport is the airport that has become this historic landmark. Because of this accomplishment, it has achieved The United Nation’s 2018 Champions of the Earth Award for Entrepreneurial Vision.

The reason for the airport’s existence.

The person who brought about this airport is V.J. Kurian, managing director of Cochin International Airport. Cochin is the largest and busiest airport in Kerala state in India. On top of that, it’s the fourth busiest airport in India when considering all international traffic. This makes it a top choice for going solar.

“We started with a 100-kilowatt pilot project,” said Kurian. “We found we could produce about 400 kilowatts of power. Then we thought: why don’t we scale up? Why don’t we make the whole airport completely solar powered?”

That might have sounded ridiculous to a lot of people, but Kurian was determined to make it a reality, and he began working on the project all the way back in 2013.

How is it possible to have a solar-powered airport?

Luckily, the climate where Cochin is located is very sunny, allowing it to generate 120,000 units of power on a daily basis. This amount of energy is produced because of the dedicated solar planet just for the airport. Panels are all over the place, from the roofs to the hangars, to the parking lot. The solar plant itself spans over an area of 45 acres.

Not only is the airport able to keep itself up and running all hours of the day, but they also produce enough extra energy that they can store it for use when it’s not sunny outside, giving them round-the-clock energy all year.

Every part of the airport is powered through solar energy. From the conveyor belts to the digital systems, no part of the airport is left unchecked when it comes to powering up the airport.

The future of solar energy.

This airport is the foundation for the future of solar energy, proving that it is possible to bring solar to every aspect of our lives. It is possible to harness the sun’s energy and create a 100% renewable world.

“Solar energy is the future,” said Kurian. “We feel this will be a much, much better source of power than the coal-based or the gas-based power plants.”

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