The Airports Authority of India (AAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NTPC to promote usage of electric vehicles and set up solar power plants at its airports. NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) will be provided adequate land and rooftop space free of cost at identified AAI airports to set up solar power plants. AAI owns and manages more than 100 airports across India.
“In the initial phase, NVVN will be taking up the projects at airports in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. The solar capacity required at airports in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan is around 55 MW and 8 MW, respectively to become 100% solar powered airports” said AAI. They further said that AAI airports in Tamil Nadu have solar power plants with 3.5 MWp (Megawatt peak) capacity currently. 12 MW solar energy is being purchased through open access for the Chennai airport. The AAI and NVVN will also jointly work towards supporting the government of India’s initiatives for adoption of electric vehicles by creation of public charging infrastructure and promoting usage of electric vehicles at airports.
A plan will be developed for adoption of electric vehicles on city side and air side at various airports and provision of electric vehicle charging stations.
