ISA & ACI Tie-up for Deployment of Solar Across Airports Globally

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Airports Council International (ACI) have signed a memorandum of cooperation with an intent to increase the deployment of solar across airports globally. The aim is to make airports greener to help reduce airport emissions, improve air quality, and make them more sustainable.

ISA and ACI will work together to develop joint projects that promote solar at airports and make them more viable. ISA will support policy choices that accelerate solar development. ACI will bring in the best practices for adoption by airports across the globe.

The collaboration between the signatories encompasses a range of activities. There is an emphasis on exchanging and sharing available and relevant information, including success stories, learnings, and outcomes from existing projects. Additionally, the signatories have committed to exchanging information on the aggregate demand for solar projects in identified airports, enabling a more informed approach to project planning.

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Further, the collaboration involves joint exploration and identification of pilot projects for solar installations. By pooling their efforts, the signatories intend to evaluate the viability of establishing solar projects in designated airports and conduct coordinated preparations and assessments. This cooperative endeavour also includes providing support during implementation by adopting suitable business models rooted in best practices, pertinent information, research, and shared experiences. The collaboration remains open to other mutually agreed-upon activities, ensuring flexibility and adaptability to emerging opportunities and challenges.

Director General of ISA, Ajay Mathur, noted, “To strengthen the partnership, the signatories will explore collaborating with various partners, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), on developing solar projects for airports. Our focus will be two-pronged: engage with ISA Member Countries to support establishing robust national and regional policies and frameworks. In addition, explore a joint publication of a guidance document of best practices for airport solarisation. We foresee this document as a comprehensive resource, sharing valuable insights and recommendations for the successful implementation of solar projects.”

Director General of ACI World, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, said, “The transition to net zero carbon emissions for aviation requires the rapid uptake of renewable energy through a mix of different pathways. The memorandum of cooperation with ISA will help ACI members improve and reduce their carbon footprint as well as dependency on fossil fuels. Airports are ideal locations for solar infrastructures due to their large, flat, and unobstructed surfaces, and this partnership will be key to supporting them in their energy transformation.

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“Additional assistance will be provided to Small Island Developing States and other developing countries so that they are able to leverage the rights tools and solutions for setting up effective solar projects. This collaboration is one more step forward in achieving our long-term carbon goal by 2050.”

Recognising the need for financial resources, the collaboration also involves supporting the mobilisation of funding whenever possible, crucial for implementing solar projects in airports.

Headquartered in India, the International Solar Alliance is an international organisation with 116 Member and Signatory countries. It works to ease solar deployment and promote solar power for a sustainable transition to a carbon-neutral future.

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Airports Council International (ACI) is the trade association of the world’s airports. It is a federated organization comprising ACI World, ACI Africa, ACI Asia-Pacific, ACI EUROPE, ACI Latin America and the Caribbean and ACI North America. As of January 2023, ACI serves 712 members, operating 1925 airports in 171 countries.