With onsite solar installations as well as Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) from solar and wind energy suppliers, BIAL’s continuous efforts towards sustainable energy management has enabled it to accomplish energy neutral status in the Financial Year 2020-21. Talking to CARGOTALK, BIAL spokesperson shares the details.
Priyanshi Bana
Q Do tell us about your recently achieved milestone of net energy neutral status.
At BLR Airport, we aim to remain the flagbearer of sustainable operations. We have put in place various measures to reduce carbon footprint and protect our environment. Energy security is a very important aspect of our business as it is one of the key indicators to assess our sustainability levels. Our continuous efforts towards sustainable energy management has enabled us to accomplish energy neutral status in the Financial Year 2020-21. BIAL’s energy management initiative is focused on achieving carbon neutrality through use of renewable, green and clean energy. We achieved energy neutral status since December 2020 through our onsite solar installations as well as Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) from solar and wind energy suppliers. In an effort to become energy neutral, BLR Airport has increased the consumption using solar power to over 50 million units through on-site and off-site Power Purchase Agreements (PPA). In addition, BIAL has entered into a PPA agreement for purchase of additional 20 million units of Wind Power through Open Access from January 2020.
Q What challenges were faced in accomplishing the task?
Understanding the energy usage was the key to achieve energy neutrality. The BLR Airport’s energy requirements are varying, and this was the biggest challenge in accomplishing the task. Transitioning to energy efficient technology was a challenge as the installations had to be migrated by retrofit and refurbish actions. Being an operational airport, the work had to be carried out without disrupting operations.
Q What is being done to reduce carbon footprints?
BIAL has put in place several measures to make BLR Airport environmentally efficient. Sustainability remains a key pillar as operations at BLR Airport are conducted in responsible manner to ensure integrity of economic viability, operational excellence and conservation of natural resources. Our efforts are focused on carefully managing environmental responsibilities. The key areas of BIAL’s sustainable initiatives are water management, energy management, environment management and waste management.
To ensure the water supply remains uninterrupted, BIAL has put in place measures that has not only made BLR Airport water positive but also has improved the water table around the region. The rainwater from the airport buildings and the airside is stored in large underground sump tanks of about 1.7 million litres capacity, treated and reused.
