Kerala’s Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) has become the first airport in India that would be running fully on solar power. The airport officially commissioned a 12 MW solar project. The plant comprising 46,150 solar panels in the cargo complex will enable Cochin airport to have 50,000 to 60,000 units of solar electricity every day for its operations.
The state’s chief minister Oomman Chandy commissioned the project constructed on 45 acres near the cargo complex of the airport. The project was executed by Bosch Ltd at a cost of Rs.62 crore in about six months. The CIAL first ventured into solar power in 2013 by installing a solar plant on the roof top of the arrival terminal block.
Random Facts
- The largest solar power plant in the world is located in the Mojave Desert in California, covering 1000 acres.
- Solar energy has been used for over 2700 years. In 700 BC, glass lenses were used to make fire by magnifying the sun’s rays.
- Solar panels are virtually maintenance free since the batteries require no water or other regular service and will last for years.
- Solar power is noise pollution free. It has no moving parts, and does not require any additional fuel, other than sunlight, to produce power.
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