IGI Airport becomes first Indian Airport to run entirely on hydro and solar power

New Delhi, India (Urban Transport News):  Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) has now become the first airport in India to run entirely on hydro and solar power with effect from June 1, 2022. This is a major milestone achieved by the Delhi Airport toward achieving the ambitious goal of becoming a Net Zero Carbon Emission Airport by 2030.

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has recently signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with a Himachal Pradesh-based hydropower producing company for the supply of hydroelectricity for the airport until 2036.

The IGI Airport has adopted renewable energy use from the hydropower plant for its demand of the remaining 94%, thus ending its dependency on non-renewable power. This move will help IGI Airport in the reduction of indirect energy emissions whopping 200,000 tonnes of CO2 every year.

"DIAL has been working relentlessly towards environmental sustainability and has set its target to make Delhi Airport a Net Zero Carbon Emission airport by 2030, way ahead of the global target of 2050. To achieve this, DIAL has adopted a Green Transportation program recently and now we achieved another milestone of the Green Energy Program for IGIA. Delhi Airport has been using solar power for a long time and it is now fulfilling its major electricity needs from a hydropower plant. Running Delhi Airport completely on renewable sources of energy is indeed a major milestone achieved by DIAL. This initiative has further consolidated DIAL's positioning as one of the greenest airports globally," said VidehKumar Jaipuriar, Chief Executive Officer, DIAL.

The DIAL has been continuously working towards establishing sustainability initiatives at the IGI Airport. The company is focusing on various initiatives such as renewable energy development and usage, energy efficiency, green building, programs with airlines, operational efficiency measures, green transportation, tree plantation, and management of greenhouse gases (GHG) as per the world body of airport, Airport Council International's (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation.

As part of environmental sustainability initiatives, DIAL has introduced TaxiBots at the IGI Airport in 2019. The use of Taxibots by airlines has helped reduce the consumption of fuel by an aircraft during taxiing, and correspondingly reduction of carbon emissions.

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) is owned by GMR Infrastructure Limited (GIL)-led consortium and manages & operates the entire IGI Airport.