FIJI Airports has installed solar-powered power supply and lighting systems at the Nadi International Airport and in four of its main domestic airports.
These installations are part of a series of sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing the carbon footprints at its airport facilities.
Fiji Airports CEO Mesake Nawari said the sustainability project aligned with the institutional goal to support the country’s transition to cleaner energy sources, enhance energy efficiency and drive down operational costs.
“A commitment to sustainability is guided by our understanding of the critical impact that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases have on climate change and the urgent need for action,” Mr Nawari said in a statement.
He said the initiatives also aligned with its environment policy committing to environmental and ethical considerations in investment decisions.
Fiji Airports electrical and mechanical technicians conducted the installations, which included fitting a 33kilowatt hybrid solar system in Nadi to power 14 electric vehicles (EVs) it acquired last year.
Solar panel installations at airports in Labasa, Savusavu, Matei and Rotuma also form part of the environmental development project.
Mr Nawari said the EV program would not be fully realised if EVs continued to charge using electricity from fossil fuel-reliant grid or diesel generators.
“To complete the cycle of the carbon emission initiative, Fiji Airports has installed a solar system to power the EVs sustainably.
“We’ve also enhanced power efficiency by combining the use of direct photovoltaic energy to charge EVs during the day with the storage of surplus energy in a battery bank which is used to power streetlights in the Nadi International Airport car park area and external signage at night.”
Streetlights at Fiji Airports Estate Compound (formerly CAAF compound) have also been converted to solar.
He said the 3.5 megawatts solar farm project was progressing and would significantly increase their renewable energy generation capacity.
NOTE: This article was first published in the print edition of the Fiji Times dated MARCH 8, 2025.
