Technology and Environment – The solar powered International Airport in India

The Industrial Revolution brought forth worldwide development. The per capita income rose and proportionately the value of manufacturing output increased. This rapid industrialization left in its wake darkened noontime skies, noisy and unsafe machinery, and severely compromised living conditions.

The industrial revolution dirtied the earth, air, and water. People started to talk about pollution. The same Technology which is causing pollution and environmental imbalance is now showing promise in environmental cleanup. Technology, in other words, is a double-edged sword-one capable both of doing and undoing damage to environment.

I want to introduce you to Cochin International Airport (CIAL) situated in Kerala, India. The Cochin airport, is the seventh busiest in India handling more than 1,000 flights a week. Cochin International airport became the world’s first solar-powered airport in 2015. CIAL was chosen for the prestigious Champion of Earth Prize – 2018 instituted by the United Nations (UN).

CIAL’s solar power plant  is producing 50,000 to 60,000 units of electricity per day to be consumed for all its operational functions, which  technically make the airport ‘ absolutely power neutral ‘.  It is interesting to note that CIAL is producing clean source of energy equivalent to energy produced from coal-fired power plants burning more than 3 lakh metric tonnes of coal. This plant also provides a carbon offset equivalent of planting 30 lakh trees. CIAL is also doing organic farming utilising the vacant areas adjacent and in between the panels. This is helpping in arresting excessive weed growth between the panels, which can cause shading of the panels thereby reducing the solar generation. The planting of vegetables also cools the panels and increase power generation.

Pic courtsey : CIAL website 

The airport also boasts of a solar carport that can house as many as 1400 cars. This carport has an installation capacity of 2.7MWp and it is the largest of its kind in the country, claims CIAL. The car park also has charging facility for electric cars.

CIAL is a perfect example where you can see technology for good and in environmentally friendly manner.

Technology is inevitable part for growth. As noted above technology is double edged. Use it right and use it for a sustainable development.