PUBLISHED : 11 Aug 2023 at 04:00
The Airports of Thailand (AoT) has installed solar rooftop panelling on Suvarnabhumi Airport’s passenger terminal, with more to come in a bid to have clean energy provide 20% of the airport’s electricity within the next two years.
AoT director Kerati Kijmanawat said yesterday that the new solar rooftop project is one of the ways the airport aims to become Thailand’s first “green airport”, or an eco-friendly airport.
“Suvarnabhumi International Airport will become the green airport prototype for other airports to follow,” he said.
Mr Kerati said the 4.4 megawatt (MW) solar power system will generate electricity for the terminal.
He said the solar rooftop panels could help make temperatures inside the terminal cooler by up to seven degrees Celsius, saving about 2% of the energy used by the air conditioning system.
The project can save more than 11 million baht a year, Mr Kerati said.
He said the solar rooftop will reduce carbon emissions by more than 3,600 tonnes annually, equal to the assimilation of 360,000 trees.
The AoT also plans to install more solar panels, both on the rooftop and in the form of floating solar panels, at the airport, he said.
Mr Kerati said the AoT also aims to save 20% of the airport’s electricity costs by installing 50 MW of panels by 2025.
The energy project involves the AoT, the District Cooling System and Power Plant Company, Egat, PTT Plc, and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority.