Delhi Airport Becomes India's First to Run Solely on Hydro & Solar Power

Delhi Airport becomes the first airport in the nation to function solely on hydro and solar energy. This is one of the key actions we have taken to move closer to realising our ambitious 2030 objective of being a Net Zero Carbon Emission Airport. Transitioning to renewable energy sources will enable it to indirectly cut 200,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

We at Delhi Airport, already have a 7.84 MW solar power plant on the airside, while we have added another 5.3 MW rooftop solar power plant at the cargo terminal recently as part of our stakeholder collaboration. To achieve this goal, DIAL has 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.

Since June 1, the hydropower plant has been supplying up to 94 percent of the airport's electricity demand with renewable energy, ending its reliance on non-renewable energy. Approximately 6 percent of the airport's electrical needs are provided by the onsite solar power facilities.

Environmental Sustainability Initiatives by Delhi Airport

Delhi Airport has been working relentlessly towards environmental sustainability and has set its target to make it a Net Zero Carbon Emission airport by 2030, way ahead of the global target of 2050. To achieve this, DIAL adopted a Green Transportation program recently and now we achieved another milestone of the Green Energy Program for IGIA.

• DIAL has been continuously working towards establishing sustainability initiatives at the Delhi Airport, focusing on various initiatives like 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.
• In 2020, Delhi Airport became the first Airport in the Asia-Pacific region to achieve “Level 4+” under ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation program. This indicates that apart from being a carbon-neutral airport, it has adopted long-term absolute emission reduction goals in line with the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 1.5- degree scenario.
• This year, for World Environment Day, DIAL announced that it will be adding 62 electric vehicles to its fleet of vehicles in the next three to four months, phasing out all of its diesel and petrol vehicles. In 2019, DIAL introduced TaxiBots, a vehicle that allows aircraft to taxi without having to turn on their engines, further reducing carbon emissions.
• DIAL also launched water management initiatives such as a 16.6 MLD zero liquid discharge sewage treatment plant, rainwater harvesting structures, 9 million litre storage tanks, and water-efficient fixtures.
• DIAL has also adopted the initiative to become a “single-use plastic-free airport”, and has been certified by a third-party agency.

With all such initiatives happening, Delhi airport will be able to achieve its target of becoming a Net Zero Carbon Emission Airport by 2030.