PUNE: Turning towards renewable energy to conserve conventional energy, the Pune Airport Authority has implemented another 100 KW solar power project, which will give a boost to the energy requirement of the increasingly busy airport, which serves to both, domestic and international air traffic.
The solar power plant is thin film-based, a first of its kind in India, which has been installed on terminal building roof recently. The 100 KW solar power plant will generate 500 units of electricity every day.
“This is unique project which we have implemented. The work has been awarded to a Bengaluru-based firm and likely to complete by March 2019. This is new state of art technology which will generate 500 units per day and will save Rs 20 lakh per annum,” Ajay Kumar, Director, Pune Airport said.
This is first ever project implemented by Pune airport. The solar power plant is so big and it has not been installed anywhere in India, said Kumar.
The cost of the plant is Rs 1.1 crore. It is used in building integrated photovoltaics and as semi-transparent, photovoltaic glazing material that can be laminated onto windows.
Other commercial applications use rigid thin film solar panels.
Early in June 2018, Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) Regional Executive Director Keshav Sharma had inaugurated the solar plant in the hanger building. The 931 panel, which is an anti-reflecting special type of panel, is running with six inverters. The panel generated average 40,500 units every month and the airport saved around Rs 4.5 lakh on electricity each month.
Around 2,600 LEDs were installed at the airport in March, leading to reduced electricity consumption. The plan is to light up the entire facility with solar power.
However, the conventional power supply will be kept as an alternative and will be used in cases of snags.
Earlier, MP and Pune Airport Advisory Committee Chairman Anil Shirole had said that the airport authorities were trying to tap solar energy following a detailed discussion with the Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha.
