The Cochin Airport in Kochi,Kerala under the VJ Kurien, managing director, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) have managed to win the UN’s most prestigous award in services to the environment the Champions of the Earth. Cochin Airport is the world’s first fully functioning solar powered airport. Not only in energy conservation but also in vegetable cultivation which they have kept up in a solar powered park . A first not just in India but the whole world.
Erik Solheim, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), had visited the airport located on the fringes of Kochi recently lauding its achievements
In a communique to Kurien, Solheim quoted
previous Champion laureates range from world leaders to inspiring scientists – all visionaries who drive the world closer to its aspiration of environmental sustainability and a life of dignity for all.’
More than 10 million people travel to and fro from the airport making it a marvelous feat to keep it running as at present the airport produces nearly 0.125 million watts of power a day from it’s 8 power plants and is capable of 30 MWp ( roughly equal to powering 30000 homes ) . This lead to Solheim very aptly stating tha Kerala seems to be leading in environmental innovation.
Kurien , an IAS officer was quickly congratulated by the IAS association in a tweet.
Many countries in the world have much to learn from the state’s experiences with the first fully-solar powered airport in the world.