India's Cochin International Airport now runs on 100% solar power

India has very big solar-powered aspirations. There are plans to build the world's largest floating solar farm. Cochin International Airport is India's fourth-largest airport, located in the southern city of Kochi. Cochin International was able to build a 46,150 paneled solar farm that will cover all of the airport's electric needs.

The nearby solar farm responsible for powering the airport contains 46,150 solar panels. The farm itself covers 180,000 square meters (45 acres) of land. The project took six months to set up and cost $6 million (£3.8 million) to complete. However, this is a cost that the airport is projected to make up in the next five years. Not bad when the solar panels themselves are expected to last 25 years.

These solar panels are predicted to prevent the creation of around 300,000 tons worth of carbon emissions during their lifetime.

From the press release:

"When we had realized that the power bill is on the higher side, we contemplated possibilities. Then the idea of tapping the green power came in. We consume around 48,000 unit (KWh) a day. So if we can produce the same, that too by strictly adhering to the green and sustainable development model of infrastructure development that we always follow, that would transcend a message to the world. Now this has become the world's first airport fully operates on solar power " -Said Mr.V.J.Kurian IAS, Managing Director, Cochin International Airport Ltd. " Infact, we are producing a few megawatt of extra energy which is being contributed to the state's power grid "-added Mr.Kurian.

This plant will produce 18 million units of power from ' sun ' annually-the power equivalent to feed 10,000 homes for one year.Over the next 25 years, this green power project will avoid carbon dioxide emissions from coal fired power plants by more than 3 lakh metric tons, which is equivalent to planting 3 million trees or not driving 750 miles.

This is a positive in the Indian carbon emissions saga. Last month India said that they would not yet announce a target date for when they expected to peak on carbon emissions. Indian minister of broadcasting and communications, Prakash Javadekar:

"The world is not expecting... India to announce its peaking year," said Prakash Javadekar, in an exclusive interview with the BBC.

"Countries know where India stands and what its requirements [development needs] are and therefore nobody has asked us for [the] peaking year."

The peaking year is when a country's emissions reach the highest level before they begin to drop.

India is the third largest emitter of carbon just behind China and the United States.