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For installing solar panels at the Chennai airport, lands identified
Posted on: 17/May/2019 9:56:16 AM
In order to reduce the use of power from the grid at the Chennai airport, AAI or Airport Authority of India has got plans to install solar panels near the main runway. The point is a tender was issued in 2018 for this purpose and this tender has been given to a contractor. In the future, solar panels would be installed on the 8.58 acre land identified in the northern corner of the main runway. This is near the Pallavaram side. It is worthy to note that the solar panels would generate around 6.5 MWp power that would be connected to the grid.
This project would cost an amount of Rs 44 crore and it is a part of AAI ‘Go Green ‘initiative of including the installation of LED lights at the terminals and airfield. It was pointed out by an official that the power generated from the panels would be used for terminals and a balance of 11 KV would be supplied through the grid through a sub-station. It must be noted that the Chennai airport has already got a roof top solar plant at the cargo complex that generates power of 5 MW.
The important information is Chennai airport has got total connected load of 1755 KW and total consumption of around 83.23 million units. The airport lights have been converted to LED lights by the AAI and as many as 6 set of LED base lights for the disaster relief was bought by AAI. Point is these could be charged by means of solar power. Initially the idea was to have the solar panels at different locations in the operational areas but just one location has been identified. Information collected is the authorities are looking at the large scale sourcing of solar power from a company and it is expected to be in the range of 12 MW to 20 MW.
The important point is AAI headquarters have found that that buying solar power could be cheaper than installing solar panels in the operational area as it needs extensive study, reflective potential plus its possible interference with flight operations. The tender works could not be completed and bid opening dates have been extended.
