Photovoltaic Solar Park of Douala International Airport Inaugurated

The ceremony chaired by the Minister of Transport Mr. NGALLE BIBEHE Ernest Massina took place January 10, 2019 in Douala in the presence of representatives of ICAO and the EU.

This achievement, which results from a five-year joint assistance project of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the European Union (EU), will largely contribute to the fight against CO2 emissions from civil aviation by ICAO.

In fact, the operation of the solar park will eliminate C02 emissions from parked aircraft at the gateways by providing them with air conditioning and solar-powered electricity to replacing auxiliary power generators on board aircraft, which are more polluting.

This new system of powering ground operations at the Douala International Airport with solar energy is special in that it includes not only a solar installation, but also equipment to feed aircraft gates with solar electricity.

According to the representative of ICAO Mrs. Jane Hupe, the solar park will reduce at least 2600 tons of CO2 each year, while supplying the Douala airport with renewable energy, capable of supplying 10,000 households. The solar panels will generate 1.2 megawatts per hour.

Through this achievement, the Douala airport becomes the third airport in Africa, alongside that of George in South Africa and Mombassa in Kenya, to have effectively implemented a solution of solar energy which contributes largely to reduce the carbon footprint.

The Representative of the European Union Mr. Steven RAULT on his part, expressed his wish for Cameroon to continue developing and sustaining the de-carbonization efforts of international aviation.

The construction of this solar park is the result of the work done by all actors in the aviation sector in the development and voluntary submission by Cameroon of a carbon emission reduction action plan within the required time frame to the International Organization of Civil Aviation ICAO. It stems from the pilot project called "Solar at gate", which dates back in 2014 and targets fourteen countries in Africa among which Cameroon, and two countries in the Caribbean.

To sustain this project, Cameroon through the ADC will have to acquire a storage batteries to optimize the operationalization of the solar park, update its action plan and meet up with commitments of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) which came into force this January 2019.

It should be noted that Madam Director General of the CCAA, Mrs. AVOMO ASSOUMOU KOKI received an order of valour medal during this ceremony. A medal was awarded by the Chancellery of Cameroon and handed over for the occasion by the Minister of Transport on behalf of the President of the Republic, for her remarkable work done so far in Civil Aviation.