AAI To Set Up Solar Power At Its Airports

New Delhi: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NTPC’s subsidiary Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) to set up solar power plants at airports and promote the use of electric vehicles there.

NVVN will be given land and rooftop space free of cost at AAI airports to install solar panels.

AAI owns and manages more than 100 airports across the country.

“In the initial phase, NVVN will be taking up the projects at airports in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan… The solar capacity required at airports in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan is around 55 MW and 8 MW, respectively, to become 100 per cent solar-powered airports,” said an AAI press release.

AAI airports in Tamil Nadu currently have 3.5 MW capacity of solar power.

“The AAI and NVVN will also jointly work towards supporting the government of India’s initiatives for adoption of electric vehicles by creation of public charging infrastructure and promoting usage of electric vehicles at airports,” it further stated.

Kochi airport is a bright example of solar power where 50,000 to 60,000 units of electricity per day is produced from the sun.