HAL to power its airport with solar energy

State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has set up a 3.5-megawatt solar energy project to power its airport facility in the eastern suburb of this tech hub, said the defence behemoth on Friday.

"The Rs.25-crore project will enable us to use solar energy and reduce dependency on conventional sources to power our airport facilities, including the Light Combat Aircract (LCA) Tejas production complex," HAL said in a statement here.

Spread over 23 acres with 12,985 solar modules installed, the single-axis tracker based project is the first at an airport in the country. The plant can generate up to 24,000 units of electricity per day depending on sunlight.

"The renewable solar project is an example of promoting climate protection and conservation of resources for meeting our energy needs," said HAL Chairman and Managing Director T. Suvarna Raju unveiling the facility.

The Gurgaon-based Amplus Energy Solutions, which bagged the order through a competitive bidding, has set up the project on turnkey basis at the HAL airport used for military aircraft test flights, VIP aircraft and charted services.

"In addition to cost savings, the 3,900 kilowatt peak (kWp) solar facility will reduce emissions equivalent to 166,257 tonne of carbon dioxide and 384,921 barrels of crude oil and planting of 190,921 trees," asserted Raju.

As part of its commitment to harness renewable sources for its growing energy needs, the company is setting up 50 MW capacity solar plant in two phases over the next two years, with 35.8 MW on open lands and 9.2 MW on roof-tops.

The company has also commissioned a 6.3-MW wind power plant at Harapanahalli in Davangere district, about 300 km from Bengaluru, for its captive power needs.

"We are evaluating a proposal to set up 150MW capacity solar power plants in partnership with Bharat Electronics Ltd and Mazagaon Dock Ltd on the lands of Ordnance Factories across the country," added the statement.

--IANS

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