India has crossed the mark of 90+ airports operating entirely on green energy, marking a major sustainability milestone for the country’s civil aviation sector.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post on Tuesday, 2 June, that the number of airports powered by 100% green energy has increased from zero in 2014 to more than 90 in 2026.
The minister said India is leading the journey towards net-zero and sustainable growth under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
The progress has been supported by solar power installations at airports and the procurement of green energy by airport operators, including the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
Official data had earlier shown a steady rise in airports switching to 100% green energy.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, 73 airports had switched to 100% green energy usage by August 2024.
A separate parliamentary reply in July 2025 said 88 airports were operating on 100% renewable energy.
The latest figure shared by the civil aviation minister places the number at more than 90 in 2026.
The transition has been driven through on-site solar power generation and the purchase of renewable energy through open access arrangements by some airport operators.
Several major Indian airports have also taken steps to reduce carbon emissions.
Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad airports have all achieved Level 5 Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA), the absolute highest tier awarded by the Airports Council International (ACI).
Cochin International Airport has also remained a key example in India’s airport sustainability journey, having become the world’s first airport fully powered by solar energy in 2015.
The green energy transition comes alongside India’s wider airport expansion plans.
The green energy transition directly mirrors India’s aggressive aviation expansion. Under the UDAN scheme, the country’s operational airport network has already more than doubled – surging from 74 airports in 2014 to approximately 157.
This footprint is projected to scale to around 400 airports by 2047 to accommodate a massive surge in passenger traffic.
To prevent this rapid growth from derailing climate targets, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is executing its Sustainable Green Airports Mission (SUGAM).
This initiative has already successfully transitioned 90+ airports to 100% renewable energy operations, establishing a strict framework to make all domestic airport infrastructure net-zero carbon by 2030.
