CM Oommen Chandy unveils 12-MW solar power plant at Cochin International Airport
The power plant can generate 52,000 units of power
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-08-19 06:33 GMT
KOCHI: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Tuesday dedicated the 12 megawatt solar power plant at the Cochin international airport making it the first fully solar- powered airport in the world.
The Chief Minister, who is also the chairman of the airport company, said that the CIAL model was giving a new direction to development in the state.
He also lauded the foray of CIAL Infrastructure Limited into building and operating eight mini- hydel power projects so as to generate 50 MW power in future. The construction of the Arippara mini- hydel project in Kozhikode will start in two months.
Power Minister Aryadan Muhammed said that the CIAL had made a major achievement considering the fact that Kerala is producing only 1700 MW of the 3700 MW power required.
He said that the current solar power production in the state stood at 60 MW. A 300- MW solar plant is being constructed at Kasargod now. If solar power is used at the domestic level as well, the current power crisis faced by the state can be overcome, he said.
Excise Minister K. Babu said that the CIAL power plant was started in March 2013 with 100 kilowatt pilot project and a one mega watt plant started functioning in November the same year.
“It has now become a 12 MW plant,” he added. The power plant can generate 52,000 units of power. The plant, built by German firm Bosch in 45 acres near the cargo complex, has 46,150 solar panels.
CIAL director board members, including managing director V.J. Kurien and German Deputy Consul General Andrea Christ, were present on the occasion.