Goa New Airport: Promoting Eco-Friendly Aviation
The newly inaugurated airport in Goa on December 11th, 2022, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is the first airport terminal in the country to achieve the title of green new buildings rating system. Indian Green Building Council has given the Manohar International Airport at Mopa a Platinum rating.
This has been possible due to GMR’s effort to integrate several sustainable features to preserve natural resources by conserving energy and water and reducing waste in the Goa New Airport. Let’s get to know more about how the airport utilises sustainable building concepts in aviation infrastructures.
Major sustainable features in the MIA
The Mopa International Airport, also known as the Mopa Airport, is a state-of-the-art aviation hub that prioritises sustainability in its design and operations. Here are some of the notable features of energy-efficient and carbon-offsetting airport design:
LED Lights on the runways
The GMR Manohar International Airport is developed on the concept of sustainable infrastructure. One such notable facility includes the installation of LED lights on the airport runway. This reduces energy consumption and improves visibility for pilots. The LED lights are more energy-efficient than traditional incandescent lights and have a longer lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements. The airport’s terminal building and other structures were designed to maximise natural light and ventilation, reducing the need for maximum energy consumption.
State-of-the-art sewage treatment plant
The airport has a state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant that treats wastewater to a high standard, making it suitable for reuse in landscaping and other non-potable uses. The treatment plant uses advanced technologies to treat the wastewater. The sewage treatment plant capacity is 625 KLD.
The airport has a comprehensive waste management program that includes waste segregation, recycling, and composting. The airport also minimises its waste output by implementing sustainable procurement practices and reducing the use of single-use plastics. The Manohar International Airport has a solid waste management plant with a capacity for processing two tonnes of biodegradable waste and three tonnes of non-biodegradable waste every day. All these features make the airport a zero-discharge unit.
Rainwater harvesting
The airport has implemented a rainwater harvesting system to collect and store rainwater. This is especially used in landscaping and other non-portable uses. The rainwater harvesting system requires a network of gutters, downspouts, and storage tanks to capture and store rainwater which GMR included in the design.
A solar power plant
The airport has a solar power plant that generates clean energy, reducing the airport’s dependence on non-renewable sources of energy. There are many structures in the Mopa International Airport that are powered by solar energy. It is a 5 MW solar PV power generation plant. It also includes Bridge Mounted equipment installation to reduce GreenHouse Gas emissions from Auxiliary Power Units of the aircraft.
Green Buildings
The Mopa International Airport is a part of the afforestation plan. So it also promotes green building requirements. So the airport planted five lac tree saplings in and around the airport. The premise retains about 165 acres of land with existing tree cover. The airport’s terminal building and other structures were designed to reduce energy consumption, water-efficiency and promote biodiversity. Due to all the green and sustainable initiatives adaptation, the airport operator has lowered the power requirements to 10MW, which was first expected to be 40 MW.
How is the new Goa Airport promoting Eco-friendly Aviation in India?
The Mopa International Airport, also known as the Mopa Airport, is promoting eco-friendly aviation in India through various initiatives and sustainable practices. Here are some of the ways the Aviation industry in India can influence the infrastructure in the future:
- Solar power is the most reliable source of renewable energy generation. So building such infrastructures can help airports mitigate their high energy consumption needs and reduce the carbon footprint rate to promote sustainable practices.
- Green initiatives like rainwater harvesting, wastewater treatment, waste segregation, recycling, and composting are also excellent examples of promoting biodiversity and carbon offsetting.
Final Thoughts
India is taking many initiatives to promote clean energy in the country. The New Goa International Airport by GMR group is a prominent example of how India needs to strive towards making a steady commitment towards sustainability in infrastructures. The core concept for the future Indian Aviation sector is to design the facilities to achieve zero-carbon footprint airports and join the list of green airports across the world.
