Tsewang Rigzin
LEH, Mar 10: Leh Kushok Bakula Rinpoche airport’s new terminal, being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 650 crore, is set to become the country’s first airport to operate using both geothermal energy and solar photovoltaic power. The terminal is scheduled for inauguration in October this year.
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Speaking to the Excelsior, A. Umashankar, Director of Leh airport and General Manager of the project, said that the construction of the terminal aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making Ladakh a carbon-free region. By using geothermal and solar energy, the airport will significantly reduce carbon emissions, he added.
“For the first time, we are introducing a geothermal project at Leh airport. Instead of a conventional air-conditioning plant, heat extracted from the ground will be used for underfloor heating. Because of this system, there will be no carbon emissions and no water usage,” Umashankar explained. “The heat energy will be multiplied through heat pumps for heating, cooling, and water circulation across the terminal.”
A total of 457 borewells, each 350 feet deep, are being drilled to harness geothermal energy for the terminal’s operations. Leh airport is one of the highest airports in the world, situated at an altitude of 3,256 meters above sea level.
In addition to geothermal energy, Umashankar informed that solar power will also play a major role in the terminal’s operations. Solar panels with a capacity of 500 KW have already been installed on the rooftop of the terminal building. An additional 200 kW of solar capacity is planned in the car park, bringing the total solar power generation to 700 KW. The airport’s total power consumption is estimated to be 2.5 megavolt amperes but due to geothermal energy integration, 2800 kW will be saved.
According to the Airports Authority of India, the new terminal will have six aircraft bays and is expected to be fully operational by 2027. By then, the estimated arrival and departure of flights from Leh airport is expected to increase to 54 daily. At present, around 16 flights operate, both arriving and departing, during the winter season, and in summer it is around 32. The terminal will be brought into operation from October this year but its full-fledged operation, with an increased number of aircraft, will materialize by 2027.
The terminal building will also use advanced infrastructure for energy efficiency. “No artificial lighting will be required during the daytime, thanks to special glass panels. Unlike most airports which use double-glazed glass, we are installing triple-glazed glass units, 56 mm thick, to prevent heat transfer. We are also using special glass on the rooftop to allow natural light,” said Umashankar. Once completed, the new terminal will have the capacity to handle 1,000 arriving and 1,000 departing passengers daily.
Besides its thermal efficiency, the terminal building is also coming up with many local architectural touches and artworks, which, they say, are being created by local artists.
The construction of the terminal is being undertaken by the Airports Authority of India through Shapoorji Pallonji Group. Around 600 labourers will be engaged in the summer months, with work set to resume by the end of March as the weather improves.
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