Global summit soon to replicate CIAL model

Kochi: The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) will convene an international summit for the managing directors of the airports of member countries to decipher possibilities of repeating the CIAL model in global level.

This was after CIAL has expressed its readiness to provide solar consultancy service to airports of the member countries, to the 40-member delegation including ambassadors and high commissioners from different countries that visited the airport on Wednesday. The delegation visited CIAL as part of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)'s initiative to find out suitable models to promote solar energy.

ISA is an alliance of 74 countries initiated by India and France formed in 2015 sharing the ambition to undertake joint efforts required to reduce the cost of finance and the cost of technology, mobilize more than US$1000 billion of investments needed by 2030 for massive deployment of solar energy.The high profile delegation reached CIAL at 10 am on Wednesday and held a discussion with CIAL authorities. CIAL managing director said that the company is all set to provide consultancy service to the member countries. "We are glad to know that other countries are keenly interested in our solar model. We have no qualms in sharing with them the technical knowhow of establishing solar power plants at their airports," said V J Kurian.

According to ISA Director General Upendra Tripati, the CIAL model has proved that high energy consumer like an airport can rely upon alternative energy sources. "We plan to organize an international summit for the airport managing directors of the member countries so that they can replicate the model," he said.After the discussion the envoys were guided to field visits at CIAL's main solar plant. They were also brought to CIAL golf club for being appraised about the floating solar plants set up in two lakes of the golf course. This time, CIAL is experimenting with panels laid over high density poly ethylene material which can float over water. A total installed capacity of 450 KWp is envisaged through this plant. CIAL achieved power neutral status in August 2015 and won 'Champions of the Earth award' in 2018; the highest environmental honour instituted by the United Nations. At present CIAL's total installed capacity is 40 MWp producing 1.63 lakhs unit of power a day whereas the requirement stands at 1.53 lakhs units.

The delegation comprised of the ambassadors/high commissioners of 25 African countries including Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria and Tanzania and also from countries like France, Brazil, Chile, Malaysia, Bolivia and Sri Lanka.