Kerala: Cochin Airport, World’s First Fully Solar-Powered Airport, Commissions Its First Hydroelectric Plant

The Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) has commissioned its first hydroelectric project at Arippara near Kozhikode.

This hydroelectric plant, a run-of-river project, is estimated to generate 14 million units of power each year.

CIAL constructed a weir dam across the Iruvazhinji River and hydro-mechanical and electro-mechanical systems at Arippara, near Kodencheri in Kozhikode district, reports Hindustan Times.

After achieving the status of the world’s first airport fully powered by solar energy, CIAL ventured into hydro energy production.

“A penstock feeds two machines each of 2.25 MW capacity. A powerhouse, with horizontal turbines, is installed at the right bank of the river with an installed capacity of 4.5MW,” the official statement said.

“We are sure that this will impart further momentum to set up such hydro projects across the state which has 44 rivers and numerous streams,” S Suhas, the Managing Director of CIAL, said.

In January 2021, CIAL began commercial operations of its floating solar energy plant to produce 452 kWh of electricity.

This floating solar plant had taken the total electricity produced by solar power plants installed by CIAL, the world’s first completely solar-powered airport, to 40 MWp.