BENGALURU: The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has set itself an ambitious target of running Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) completely on solar power by 2020.
Currently, power demand at KIA is 11MW per day and airport authorities estimate it to increase to about 20MW after completion of the second terminal. The airport now generates 3.44MW from solar energy daily and the proposed capacity enhancement project will add another 8.35 MW in two phases, taking the total to about 12MW. While the 12MW would be from on-site energy generation, BIAL plans to source another 8MW of solar energy from off-site.
“Currently, solar energy is harnessed from both roof-top and ground-mounted panels. Our aim is to make the airport 100% renewable-energy powered by 2020. We also plan to increase our consumption through on-site and off-site solar power purchase agreements,” said S Lakshminarayanan, vice president (engineering & maintenance), BIAL.
He said BIAL plans to install a solar power plant with a total capacity of 12MW, of which work has begun on installation of a 3.35MW capacity plant. The other plant with 5MW capacity is in the planning stage.
Authorities at Cochin International Airport Limited, Kerala has set up a 12MW solar power project within the airport complex to cater to power requirements.
Stating that conserving energy and generating renewable energy are two different areas of energy management, Lakshminarayanan said: “At BIAL, energy conservation efforts have been taken up and implemented. These include installation of LED lights, use of solar power, installation, modification and adoption of energy-efficient fittings and fixtures.”
More LED lights
BIAL also plans to convert all lighting, except airfield ground lighting systems, to LED to reduce energy consumption. As of now, all streetlights and 50% of those at the terminal are LED. Energy saved from use of LED lights is equivalent to 1.7 million units per year.
“A combination of solar power, rainwater harvesting and water conservation and LED lighting could ensure the airport achieves “3+ carbon neutrality”, the highest level of environmental impact achievement for airports. A solid waste management plant which is under construction will be operational in 2019, making BIA the first in Asia to have an in-house solid waste management facility,” said Hari Marar, CEO, BIAL.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes
