Raju hails AAI’s energy conservations drive

Minister of Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapati Raju and Minister of state Jayant Sinha reviewed the progress of Airports Authority of India (AAI) projects on conservation of energy and maximum use of non-conventional sources of energy at all airports. Appreciating the efforts made so far by AAI, Raju asked AAI Chairman Sudhir  Raheja to step up efforts for maximum use of non-conventional energy at remaining airports.

The review meeting was attended by the Civil Aviation Secretary along with seniors officer of the ministry, Airports Authority of India Chairman Sudhir Raheja and Regional executive directors and Airports directors of different AAI regions/ airports.

The ministers were informed by the Airports Authority of India chairman that it  has already installed and commissioned roof top solar plants at 16 airports (including one at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, Safdarjung Airport). 

Further, at 11 other airports the work of installation of solar power projects are in progress and likely to be completed during the next three-four months. In addition to this, three major projects on solar power plants at Kolkata, Jaipur and Chandigarh with a combined installed capacity of 19.8 mw are likely to be completed by December.2016. 

Airports Authority of India has also planned solar power plants with a combined capacity of 116 mw at 16 other airports subject to resolving the issue of net metering and feeding tariff with the respective governments where these airports are located.

In the past, Airports Authority of India’s efforts towards renewable energy/ energy conservation have been appreciated at various platforms and the National Excellence Award 2016 for roof top Solar Power Projects in the ‘Public Sector Undertakings’ category was awarded to Airports Authority of India at Vigyan Bhavan in June this year.

The total solar energy generated so far at various airports is 51 lakh units.  This has helped in reduction of carbon foot prints which are a  major factor for Climate Change for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been perusing at various International fora. 

Airports Authority of India has reduced 4,600 metric tonnes of carbon emission solely from the installed solar plants. The minister directed the Airports Authority of India Chairman to provide similar plants at other smaller airports also by using the latest technology.