After Kochi, now Bhopal shines

Bhopal’s Raja Bhoj Airport is going to be the second in India to be completely dependent on solar energy. Airport director, Akashdeep Mathur said that after Kochi, Bhopal airport will become self-sufficient through green energy. A 1MW capacity solar plant will be installed at the airport to power all its functions. Once operational, the airport will be able to save around Rs25 lakh a month in electricity charges. Mathur said that generating solar electricity was a new concept at the airport, therefore, all are very enthusiastic about the project. After successful installation of solar panels as a pilot project, they have realized the wonders of solar power. According to sources, the cost of the project is around Rs 4.5 crore and the airport is expected to go all-solar by December 2017. There is also a system of net metering wherein customers generating their own electricity can feed the surplus into the power grid. Thus, the extra electricity that the airport generates during daylight hours can be stored and used during the night time when use exceeds the system’s output. The airport consumes 80 % electricity at night. According to a senior official, net metering enables the electricity generated during the day to go back to the grid so that at night the stored electricity can be used.