Eye on solar power projects, ISA to showcase Cochin airport
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) plans to showcase Kerala’s Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), the world’s first such facility to run exclusively on solar power, this month to global airport companies and civil aviation authorities to promote solar energy. This in turn may help state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) land deals in ISA member countries.
ISA, which has become a significant foreign policy tool, hopes to persuade airports around the world to follow Kochi’s example and go solar. It is helping state-run NTPC Ltd secure solar projects in 47 least developed and small island nations and was appointed the nodal agency for implementing India’s global electricity grid plan.
India has been trying to bag solar power contracts in ISA member-countries against the backdrop of China’s Belt and Road initiative.
Around 50 chief executives of international airports and global aviation authorities, including senior representatives of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN body promoting cooperation among its 193 member-nations, are expected to attend ISA’s SunMeet to be held on 16 December.
“The objective of this workshop is to spread awareness among ISA member- countries of the benefits of solarization of airports and encourage them to go solar,” said ISA director general Upendra Tripathy.
