The 7th busiest airport in India is breaking world records by soaking up the sun.

Kerala's Cochin International Airport has become the first  in the world to run entirely on solar power. With a 45-acre field of solar panels, the setup has a 12-megawatt peak capacity which means the airport will not have to spend a dime on electricity.

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The airport plans on doubling the capacity to 26.5 megawatts after the initial six years needed to recoup the $9.3 million investment cost.

"We consume around 48,000 unit (KWh) a day. So if we can produce the same by strictly adhering to the green and sustainable development model of infrastructure development that we always follow, that would send a message to the world," said managing director of the airport, Mr. V.J. Kurian IAS.

According to the company, over the next 25 years the solar power generated will have eliminated 300,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions from a coal fired power plant, equal to planting 3 million trees.

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