Pune airport aims at going green with 300kWp solar power plant
Officials working with the electrical department of Pune airport said that the solar power plant will be set up at the airport hangar.
As part of their ambitious dream of running all airports in India on solar power, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) is planning to implement its first 300 kilowatts peak (kWp) solar power plant at the Lohegaon airport soon. Recently, the Pune Airport Authority, through its official Twitter handle, informed the public about the construction of a new 300 kWp solar plant on its premises. The tweet also claimed that the project will be completed by March 31.
“The Pune airport will have a solar power plant by March 31. The tender process for the work has been completed. The total cost of project is Rs.1.27 crore,” tweeted the official twitter handle of AAI Pune Airport.
Officials working with the electrical department of Pune airport said that the solar power plant will be set up at the airport hangar. Though the estimated time of completion of the project stated by the AAI is March 31, the implementation of the project could be delayed by a few months. We are also checking to see if another solar power plant is feasible at the Pune airport, added an airport official on terms of anonymity.
The tender for the 300 kWp solar power plant project has been awarded to an Ahmedabad-based company named Varchasva Industries.
Vaibhav Ujjain, vice-president of Varchasva Industries, said, “The cost of the project is Rs.1.27 crore and we aim to complete the project in the estimated time. However, it is subject to the timely approval of the required documents by all the respective authorities.”
“Though feasible areas for the installation of solar panels were scarce, we managed to find a good space in the first phase and consequently, the tender was awarded by us. As far as the phase two is concerned, only parts of land at the airport can be used to set up a solar power plant. The rooftop of the terminal building can also be utilised for the purpose. An outline of the plan for phase two will be drawn up soon,” said officials from the electric department of the airport, on terms of anonymity.
“While the solar power would be used at the primary source of electricity at the airport, regular electrical power supply will also be kept as an alternative. It will be used in the case of any unforeseen hindrance,” said officials.
The move is expected to help the airport authority save on electricity bills. Previously, Cochin International Airport had implemented a solar power plant and had become the India’s first airport to run on solar power.
About the Solar Power Plant
1) Cost of the solar power plant at the Pune Airport is Rs.1.27 cr.
2) The solar plant will generate the energy up to 300 kWp.
3) Average solar energy requirement at the airport is 600-700 kWp.
4) The construction of the project has been awarded to the Ahmedabad-based company named Varchasva Industries Pvt Ltd.