Page 29 - Clean India Journal Magazine June 2019 Issue

COVER STORY

deployed to increase the passenger throughput and also The focus on sustainability leadership continues into
enhance the passenger experience. As a part of rapidly energy conservation efforts as well. The airport offers
progressing expansion project, the forecourt ramps the airlines the use of Fixed Electrical Ground Power
have already been doubled and the number of aircraft (FEGP) for the aircraft turnaround operations instead
parking stands have also been nearly doubled. of relying on fossil-fuel operated Auxiliary Power
The futuristic expanded Hyderabad Airport will have Unit (APU) & Ground Power Units (GPU) to avoid
a plethora of tech-enabled solutions for passengers to noise & exhaust emissions emanating from APU &
experience, ushering them into a whole new cosmos of GPU. Additionally, progressive introduction of battery
latest, passenger centric automated interfaces leading operated Ground Support Equipment (GSE) vehicles
to minimal intrusion and transporting them through a in place of conventional internal combustion engine
seamless movement through the airport. driven vehicles, regular pollution check for the GSE,
etc., have contributed in curtailing emission levels
How has the Airport, in the last decade, significantly.
lived up to the environmental and As part of its energy conservation measures,
sustainable commitment? Hyderabad airport is the first in the country to convert

Environmental Sustainability was one of the a major portion of the entire lighting system at airport
driving themes in the development of the Hyderabad campus including airfield lighting to energy efficient
Airport, and it permeates every aspect of the airport’s LED lights, bringing down energy conservation
infrastructure and operations to this day. significantly. The airport has the laurel of being the first

The airport has a ‘green’ passenger terminal building, in South India and only the 2nd in India to have the
which has won the ‘Silver’ rating in ‘Leadership entire taxiway edge lights replaced from halogen lamps
in Energy and Environmental Design’ (LEED) to energy efficient LED lamps.
certification in the year 2008 by the US Green Building A 5MW solar energy power plant at RGIA was
Council. Apart from the green terminal building, commissioned in November 2015 for its captive use.
the entire airport has a well-planned and maintained This green energy meets approx. 15% of the airport’s
greenbelt and landscaping which has won laurels for its total electricity demand and saves 7,100MT of carbon
beauty and pleasing ambience. The extensive greenery emission annually. The 5MW captive plant was further
at the airport is maintained by treated wastewater and upgraded by another 5MW and is in the process of
modern Drip Irrigation system ensuring minimal water being commissioned. Once commissioned, the total
wastage. The airport also has first of its kind captive solar power capacity will be enhanced to 10MW which
composting plant for processing food wastes. The will further reduce dependency on the commercial
organic manure from the plants are extensively used power.
in maintaining the sprawling green cover, which also Reduction of carbon footprint has been one of the
acts as a natural sink of the carbon emissions absorbing key focus areas in environment sustenance measures
about 240 tonnes of CO / annum.
2 at RGIA. GHIAL has been consistently reducing
The airport also has a major focus on water its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since 2009
conservation, with a specially designed Rainwater by implementing a number of energy conservation
Harvesting facility able to store enough water to meet initiatives. The airport has implemented Carbon
the airport’s needs for over 60 days. The airport is Accounting & Management System (CAMS),
harvesting and using the rainwater on a big scale that which helps to measure, manage and report its GHG
has also helped to enhance the water table level in the emissions and enables the airport to take measures in
area. reducing them even further. RGIA is one of the first
As a part of Airport’s water conservation strategy, airports in Asia Pacific region to account its GHG
two Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) have been emissions which is further verified by an external
installed at airport campus to treat and recycle authorised agency in accordance with the requirements
wastewater to ensure zero discharge from the airport of ISO 14064-1:2006.
premises. Almost 40% of daily water needs at airport Overall, the airport employs a host of environment
including flushing, cooling water make-up and focused initiatives aimed at optimizing the use of
irrigation are met from recycled water. natural resources by conserving water, fuel, electricity

Clean India Journal
www.cleanindiajournal.com 29
June 2019