
Nedumbassery: A group of students from the UK visited the Kochi International Airport, which has been certified as the world’s first solar-powered airport, as part of the International Summer School organized by the UK-based International Skill Development Corporation (ISDC) in collaboration with Jain Deemed B University. An 11-member student group arrived in Kochi from Liverpool John Moores University. The month-long summer school will visit the historical places and famous personalities of Kochi during the days.
Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL), the world’s first fully solar energy-powered airport, surpassed another milestone earlier this week when its cumulative production touched 25 crore energy units, thanks to its many green energy initiatives.
This means that CIAL has until now reduced its carbon footprint by 1.6 lakh metric tonnes. So far, the airport has generated 75 lakh units from its hydro project alone. Combined together, CIAL has emerged as the second-largest energy producer in the State after Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEB).
Students talked with S. Suhas, managing director of CIAL about the activities and projects in near future. The airport was endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme as the “world’s first airport fully powered by solar energy” and the United Nations subsequently recognised it with the Champions of the Earth award in 2018.
The students praised the airport company’s activities aimed at sustainable development. The students also visited the organic vegetable farm and golf course run by CIAL adjacent to the airport.