Vijayawada International Airport has joined a growing list of solar-powered airports in the country with the recent commissioning of a 1 MW project.

The project was set up by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at an estimated cost of ₹55.4 million (~$78,118),

According to the airport authorities, a total of 3,040 solar panels of 330 W have been installed for the project.

Speaking to Mercom, G.M.S.Rao, the director of Vijayawada International Airport, said that two inverters of 500 kW each and one 125 kVA dry type indoor transformer have also been installed to support the project.

“We have completed the installation work and synchronized the solar power project with APSPDCL (Southern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited) under the net metering policy. The weather monitoring system has been installed for monitoring temperature, wind speed, and irradiance, which is integrated with SCADA. The installed solar system generates approximately 1.4 million units per annum,” Rao said.

He said that the solar project that has been deployed on six acres of vacant land adjacent to the car park of the airport would reduce carbon emissions by 980 tons per year.

“The construction work began on December 2018, and it was completed in June this year. The power that will be generated from this eco-friendly solar power project is estimated to be 4,000 units per day,” Rao told Mercom.

In December 2018, Mercom had reported that AAI was on the lookout for a contractor to do the electrical work for a 1 MW grid-connected solar PV project at  Vijayawada Airport.

With the installation of the solar project, Vijayawada Airport will now be able to save ₹9.2 million (~$133,669) per annum in its power bill, he further informed.

The AAI, which is the statutory body under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, seeks to use solar as a low-cost renewable source of power to fuel operations at various airports across India. It has floated various tenders in the recent past for airports across the country.

Recently, the AAI was on the lookout for an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor to develop an 8 MW grid-connected solar project at Hubballi airport.

In May 2018, it inaugurated a 1 MW ground-mounted solar project at Tirupati’s Renigunta International airport. Fourth Partner Energy had commissioned the project.

The AAI recently issued a notice inviting contractors for the operation and annual comprehensive maintenance of a 300 kW solar PV power project at Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj.

Previously, it also invited EPC companies to develop a 4 MW grid-connected solar project at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneshwar.

Image credit: Vijayawada International Airport

Anjana is a news editor at Mercom India. Before joining Mercom, she held roles of senior editor, district correspondent, and sub-editor for The Times of India, Biospectrum and The Sunday Guardian. Before that, she worked at the Deccan Herald and the Asianlite as chief sub-editor and news editor. She has also contributed to The Quint, Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express, Reader’s Digest (UK edition), IndiaSe (Singapore-based magazine) and Asiaville. Anjana holds a Master’s degree in Geography from North Bengal University, and a diploma in mass communication and journalism from Guru Ghasidas University, Bhopal.