AAI Decarbonises 14 Airports With 100% Renewable Energy

14 airports out of 125 airports, falling under the Airport Authority of India, have achieved decarbonisation with 100% renewable energy. Running on renewable energy to meet the operational requirements, the list of carbon free airports includes Tezu airport, Kangra airport, Kullu airport, Shimla airport, Jammu airport, Srinagar airport, Leh airport, and Imphal airport, Dimapur airport, Puducherry airport, Pakyong airport, Kanpur airport, Dehradun airport and Patna airport.

AAI looks after the management of 125 airports and looks into upgrading, maintaining, and managing aviation. It prioritises carbon neutrality and net zero carbon emission at its various airports.

The statutory body is working towards achieving this and has been installing solar plants at its airports. The Union government has set itself a target to make the Indian airports carbon neutral by December 2024 and achieve Net Zero emissions by 2030. As published by Saur Energy earlier, Rubina Ali, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, wrote to the CEOs of the private airports and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) a couple of months ago to submit a plan to achieve net zero.

Her letter reads, “Airports in India are already at the forefront by adopting various measures to reduce emissions, such as renewable energy development. All airports (must) adopt carbon management plans in their existing operation and ongoing airport expansion. All airport operators to adopt Carbon Mitigation Measures as their milestones with definite time frame.” Cochin, Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai airports have successfully embraced the renewable energy model and  motivating other airports to follow suit.

While renewable energy is the obvious first step for most airports, thanks to the abundant areas they are spread across, other targets like zero water discharge facilities and rainwater harvesting are also a must, which only some are practicing or moving towards now.

Giving a peek into the mind of the Aviation Minister, another senior official from the ministry had been quoted as saying, “The Aviation Minister has special focus on green airports, and we will be able to achieve that. The airports have now submitted the plan and we will keep monitoring it. While many airports have already working towards environment friendly measures, we want to ensure everyone does,”.