Kenya’s Moi International Airport in Mombasa has set the pace in East Africa by being the first airport in the region set to install a solar photo voltaic system.
The mega project is part of a US $751m initiative which was implemented by the International Civil Aviation Organization and funded by the European Union targeting 14 countries to reduce CO2 emissions in the aviation sector.
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Airport gate electrification equipment
The new 500 kiloWatt solar photovoltaic system which will be installed by Solarcentury East Africa will generate 820,000 kW per hour per year and enable Moi International Airport to save thousands of dollars per year on grid consumption for at least 25 years, while reducing aviation carbon emissions.
Solarcentury will also install an airport gate electrification equipment consisting of a mobile electric-powered pre-conditioned air unit (PCA) and an electric power converter that will provide uninterrupted power to the PCA.
Jane Hupe, Deputy Director Environment at International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), said the implementation of the “solar-at-gate” projects is a good example of how to reduce CO2 emissions and achieve greater sustainability in the aviation sector by using renewable energy technology.
Reduction in carbon emissions
“There is a great interest from ICAO Member States to embark on these projects and the availability of funding from partners will allow ICAO to support their replication at a global scale,” said Hupe.
The expected savings on electricity as well as a reduction in carbon emissions will contribute towards the efficient operations of Moi International Airport. Work on the site will take 10 months and the systems are expected to be generating solar electricity by 2019. Solarcentury will provide two years of Operations and Maintenance on the system.
renewable energy the way to go, first to reduce cost of electricity and secondly to reduce carbon emission. This should be emulated across the continent.
The increased interest, installation and use of clean energy, in the various forms like Solar,Wind should be encouraged at all levels by all stakeholders, globally, regionally and at individual national levels.
As a professional Accountant/ Finance, tax and governance person, keen on value management and integrated reporting in our business performance, I would like to see more research and documentation on Carbon Credit, and it finding way into organisation’s/ Company’s annual reports and financial statements. We need to be very deliberate in promoting green energy to conserve our ecosystems that sustain our businesses, and human lively hood. We must re-awaken our roles,responsibilities as stewards of God given natural resources.