CSMIA Mumbai receives Energy Efficient Unit award; Sets a precedent for others to follow

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai, is one of the biggest and busiest airports in the world. Second, only to Delhi in terms of total passenger traffic, CSMIA is also of one the best airports in terms of service and operations. In 2020, the Airports Council International judged CSMIA to be the best airport in the Asia-Pacific region. It is not only in terms of services that the airport stands out. The airport is also a throbbing hub for innovation and green initiatives.

The international airport was recently awarded the ‘Energy Efficient Unit’ Award by the Confederation of India Industry (CII) at the 22^nd National Award for Excellence in Energy Management 2021. The concentrated efforts of CSMIA towards building a sustainable model of energy consumption and saving have finally paid off. The airport focused on identifying projects that would allow it to become more energy-efficient while implementing measures like a green supply chain, environmentally conscious waste management, and controlling GHG emissions.

In order to address the climate crisis that has become a global threat, CSMIA adopted a multi-pronged approach. Carbon management system, carbon neutrality, renewable energy installations and enhanced capacity were some of the initiatives undertaken by the airport in this regard. The pandemic also afforded CSMAI ample opportunities to reduce excess energy usage and introduce energy efficient measures. As a result of these measures, the airport was able to reduce energy usage to 35 per cent and save almost 38.5 million units (kWh). GHG emissions also decreased by 31,581 units (tCO₂e).

A decisive factor in this transformation of CSMIA into an energy efficient unit was the adoption and integration of solar power to the existing infrastructure. Solar power contributes to around 5 per cent of the total power consumed by the airport. As a result of this initiative, 5.38 million kWh was the total solar power generated by the airport in FY2019-20. An even more impressive feat is that renewable energy generation has increased by 44 per cent.

CSMIA is also committed to reducing its GHG emissions and has adopted the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a baseline for further reductions in Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions. Additionally, CSMAI is also the only airport in India to publish a Sustainability Report as per GRI Standards.

The aviation industry is responsible for around 2 percent of all human-induced CO₂ emissions. Although the number seems paltry compared to other industries, an effort to further reduce this number will go a long way. The efforts by CSMIA to reduce its carbon signature is indeed a laudable effort that deserves global recognition.

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