Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport becomes first in Asia-Pacific to achieve carbon neutrality

Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport in India has become the first airport in the Asia-Pacific region to achieve carbon neutrality through Airports Council International’s (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation program.

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the airport operator, attained Level 3+ Neutrality by implementing a number of environmentally friendly measures to help offset the airport’s carbon footprint. This included constructing the new Terminal 3 (T3) facility to LEED Gold standards and building a new 7.84MW solar power plant to help reduce emissions.

Other energy efficient and environmentally friendly infrastructures at the airport include state-of-the-art sewage treatment and water treatment plants, energy efficient bridge mounted equipment (BME), energy efficient lighting systems, advanced fuel hydrant systems, fixed electric ground power units (FEGP) and preconditioned air (PCA) supply systems. The various measures implemented by DIAL have resulted in a 51% reduction in emissions over the last five years.

I Prabhakara Rao, CEO of DIAL, said, “We have delivered on our commitment of achieving sustainable solutions for Aviation Climate Change mitigations made at LPAA-COP 21 last year through carbon neutrality. With this achievement, we have set up a new benchmark for other airports in this region to follow.

“Going forward we are focusing on energy conservation and exploring alternative solutions for generating green energy. Delhi Airport aims to increase its solar power generation capacity to 20 MW by 2020.”

Patti Chau, regional director, ACI Asia-Pacific, said, “I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the team at Delhi Airport in achieving the carbon neutral airport status under Airport Carbon Accreditation. We are extremely delighted to welcome the first airport in our region with such an achievement.

“Level 3+ Neutrality is the highest level of environmental achievement available to airports under the program and it is recognition of the airport’s great effort in reducing and offsetting emissions. We are proud of Delhi Airport’s achievement and its commitment to sustainability which has set a good example for airports in the region.”