Bengaluru Airport Becomes Net Energy Neutral, Saves 22 Lakh Units

On World Environment Day, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) announced that the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru has achieved net energy neutral status in the fiscal year 2020-21.

BIAL considers this one of its ambitious goals as it already set the target to become Net Energy Neutral by 2020-21. Even it claims to begin 2021-22 promisingly by addressing 98 percent of its energy requirement of 21-22 through renewable sources.

The airport corporation claims to have saved up to 22 lakh units of electricity in FY 2020-21, enough to power nearly 9,000 houses for a month. BIAL saved nearly 5 lakh units (KWH) from lighting and has implemented chiller plant optimization in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), which has resulted in saving of over 17 lakh units (KWH) of power.

Speaking of their goals, MD & CEO of BIAL, Mr. Hari Marar stated, “As we expand our operations at Bengaluru Airport, we aim to remain the flagbearer of sustainable operations. We have put in place various measures to reduce our carbon footprint and protect our environment. Energy security is a very important aspect of our business as it is one of the key indicators to assess our sustainability levels.”

Bengaluru Airport has achieved this energy neutral status since December 2020, which possibly happened through its onsite solar installations as well as Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) from solar and wind energy suppliers. Under its Energy Management initiative, focused on achieving carbon neutrality through the use of renewable, green, and clean energy, BIAL has taken multiple steps to make the airport sustainably energy neutral.

These steps include, it has increased the consumption from solar power to over 50 million units through on-site and off-site PPA. Additionally, BIAL has entered into another PPA for the purchase of additional 20 Million units of Wind Power through Open Access from January 2020.

Bengaluru airport has Rooftop solar installation at utility buildings and car parks generating 503 KW and 440 KW of respective power. Another ground-mounted solar installation at Airside generating 2500 KW of power and rooftop solar is installed at Cargo buildings, E&M offices, and Project offices that generate 3350 KW of power.

The airport has been using LED lights all over the vicinity, including newly commissioned South Runway Airfield Ground Lighting and recently refurbished North Runway are powered with LED lights.

According to BIAL, the solar installations, deployed across 53,600 sq. m. on the Airside, will help the Airport save 37.5 lakh units of electricity annually, reducing its dependency on non-renewable sources of energy. This will also result in an overall reduction in carbon emissions.