Civil Aviation Ministry gets ready for a green take-off
Plans 146 MW of solar-power generation at airports; 30 MW already in pipeline
The Union
Minister of Civil Aviation Sh. Ashok Gajapathi Raju today reviewed the
progress of energy and water conservation measures at Airports Authority
of India (AAI) airports across the country. The important review
meeting was attended by Minister of State Sh. Jayant Sinha and Secretary
of the Department, besides Chairperson AAI and other senior officers.
Airport Directors of 12important airports also attended the
deliberations so that they could be sensitized to implement these
initiatives at their respective airports.
During the meeting, the Airport Director, Jaipur dwelled at length on
the energy conservation measures recently undertaken at the airport.
These include maximum use of LED lighting, installation of efficient
air-conditioning equipment, provision of energy efficient pumps and
motors, a roof top solar power plant of 1 MW capacity and a 1.8 MW
ground-based solar power plant under implementation. All Airport
directors were encouraged to adopt similar initiatives, some of which
have a payback period of as low as two years.
AAI has already installed solar power plants at 16 airports with a total
capacity of 5.4 MW. So far, 51 lakh energy units have been generated
from these plants leading to a reduction of 4,600 metric tonnes in
carbon emissions. By December 2016, additional 24.1 MW of solar power
plants will become operational at 11 more airports. Infact, the
perspective plan of AAI targets augmenting the solar power generation to
116 MW by including 16 more airports.
The status and scope of water conservation, water-recycling and sewage
treatment plants at the airports was also deliberated upon. AAI is
already using re-cycled water for horticulture, fire-fighting and
air-conditioning requirements at several airports. The Union Minister
directed the Chairman AAI to provide similar infrastructure at all
airports under his jurisdiction.It may be recalled that in June 2016,
the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the AAI were honored with the
National Excellence Awards 2016 by Govt of India in Ministry and PSU
category respectively for taking outstanding steps towards use and
promotion of solar energy.
Sh. Raju appreciated the efforts of AAI and conveyed that not only
should our airports be self-sufficient in energy and water requirements,
but we should now look at feeding power to the national grid as we have
sufficient open spaces available. He also directed that an airport-wise
action plan on both energy and water conservation should be developed
by AAI within one month. Sh. Jayant Sinha also appreciated the efforts
at Jaipur airport and advised AAI to go ahead with its ambitious program
in a structured.
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UM/NP
(Release ID :146940)
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