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Net Zero Carbon Emission: IGI Delhi becomes India’s first airport to run entirely on solar and hydro energy

As on June 1, Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport will run exclusively on a mix of hydro and solar electricity for its consumption demands, making it the country's first airport to do so.

TN City Desk

Updated Jun 23, 2022, 15:21 IST

Image of Indira Gandhi International Airport

Photo : PTI

Delhi: In a significant step toward achieving the ambitious aim of being a Net Zero Carbon Emission Airport by 2030, Indira Gandhi International Airport this month became the first airport in the nation to function fully on hydro and solar electricity.

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) estimates that the onsite solar power plants provide about 6% of the electricity needed by the Delhi airport. The airport has chosen to use hydropower from the hydropower plant for the remaining 94 percent of its energy needs, ending its reliance on non-renewable energy.

The private airport operator announced, that DIAL has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with a hydropower-producing firm located in Himachal Pradesh for the supply of hydroelectricity for the airport until 2036.

“DIAL has been working relentlessly towards environmental sustainability and has set its target to make the Delhi airport a net-zero carbon emission airport by 2030, way ahead of the global target of 2050,” said DIAL CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar.

He added, “The Delhi airport has been using solar power for a long time and it is now fulfilling its major electricity needs from a hydropower plant. Running the airport completely on renewable sources of energy is indeed a major milestone achieved by DIAL.”

DIAL said its switching over to renewable sources for its energy needs will help it reduce indirectly 200,000 tons of carbon emissions. DIAL said they are ending their dependency on non-renewable power since June 1.

In an effort to reduce carbon emissions and fuel consumption by aero planes when taxiing, DIAL introduced TaxiBots to IGI Airport in 2019 as part of its environmental sustainability programs.

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