Image Courtesy: architecturenorway
After Delhi’s IGIA and Kochi’s CIAL, It’s the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad going green and going logical. A 5 MW solar power plant is commissioned here which will generate 25,000 units of electricity daily for its operational purposes. This will fulfil nearly 30 percent of the daily power consumption of the airport. GMR which operates the Hyderabad airport has installed over 16,000 modules of solar panels on an area of 24 acres with a fixed tilt for maximum sun exposure. These modules are based on poly crystalline technology which is among the most efficient technology available currently.
The entire set-up is worth a whopping amount of Rs.30 crore. Rest assured about the money spent as the energy generated will save 12 tonnes of coal and nearly 80,000 litres of water every day compared to thermal power. This is the equivalent of planting 20 lakh trees in terms of environmental benefits as it will eliminate carbon emissions of 7,100 metric tonnes.
The Hyderabad airport authorities also plan to scale up the production up to 30 MW over the next two to three years, which is the total daily power consumption of the airport.
The city of Pearls has taken a huge step towards a win-win scenario of obtaining energy on one hand and protecting the environment on the other. Let’s hope the other airports and the like also learn from it soon.
-NIKITA MATHUR
