On 18th August 2015 CIAL became the first airport in the world completely powered by solar energy. (The details of the project can be accessed in 'updates ' section). As the State of Kerala is going through an acute power shortage and the power tariff has exponentially increased in the recent years, the cost of power is a significant component of the operating cost of the Company, which is expected to increase further in the years to come. CIAL therefore considers that it is necessary to initiate steps to achieve self sufficiency in power by utilizing renewable energy resources.
CIAL Infrastructures Ltd, a subsidiary company of CIAL has successfully commissioned a 1 MWp Solar power plant in the CIAL Museum premises and the rooftops of aviation academy/hangar buildings, which is the first Mega watt scale solar power plant in the State of Kerala. The average power generated per day from this plant is approximately 4000 units. The work for the 12 MWp plant was started in January 2015 and completed in August. The plant generates approximately 48,000 units of power a day. Further, the work for doubling the capacity is going on. By February 2020, CIAL achieved a total installed capacity of 42 MWp. The capacity enhancement projects are going on in different areas. A 12 MWp project at Payyannur is expected to be completed by May 2021. The company also ventured into the Small Hydro Power Sector in a significant way. Government of Kerala has issued G.O for allocation of 8 Small Hydro Electric Power Projects (SHEPs) with an aggregate capacity of 45.8 MW to CIAL for implementation on BOOT basis. The Power Department, Government of Kerala have also requested to intimate CIAL’s willingness to take up two SHEPs at Upper & Lower Kallar small hydro power projects in Idukki District, aggregating to 10MW of power. CIAL expects to complete the projects within approximately three years.