GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd has commissioned a 5 MW solar power plant for its captive consumption and plans to gradually scale the capacity up to 30 MW over the next two-three years.

Located close to the greenfield airport, the solar plant set up with an outlay of Rs 25 crore, has started generating around 25,000 units per day of pollution free energy and meeting the airport's peak power demand during day time. The green energy produced by the plant is equivalent to meet requirement of about 4,800 homes.

SGK Kishore, Chief Executive Officer of GHAIL, said that the plant set up in about four months time will help about 30 per cent of the airport’s terminal requirement. We are looking the next phase where the capacity of the solar power project would be ramped up by 7 MW more and eventually to 30 MW, thereby meeting the entire requirement of the airport and its related establishments.

The solar power plant has over 16,000 modules of solar panels, each having a fixed tilt for maximum sun exposure. These modules based on poly crystalline tecehnology are considered to be amongst most efficient. The Grid-connected system would be used for captive consumption of the airport.

“Given the proactive steps announced by the centre and State governments to promote renewable energy, we will gradually explore setting up roof top units by retrofitting exiting buildings. In addition, the proposed new expansion terminal would also have solar panels on top of the building,” Kishore explained.

Airport expansion

With the existing greenfield airport poised to hit its full capacity of 12 million passengers per annum by March this year, the company is considering expansion and taking the capacity up to 20 million passengers per annum. “Plans are underway and a final decision on the capacity expansion and quantum of investments will be finalised during the year,” Kishore said.

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