Indian Navy's Green Efforts: Inauguration of Solar Power Plants in Three Orders

Indian Navy's Green Efforts: Reducing Carbon Footprint, Inauguration of Solar Power Plants in Three Orders

Earlier this month, a 3 MW solar power plant project executed by Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KELTRON) was inaugurated at the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, Kerala.

In line with the government's initiative of the Solar National Solar Mission to achieve 100GW solar power by 2022, the Indian Navy has so far installed large solar power plants in three commands between May and July.

Earlier this month, the 3 MW solar power plant project executed by Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KELTRON) was inaugurated at Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, Kerala. It is one of several initiatives undertaken by INA to reduce the green environment and carbon footprint. Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command (SNC) operated the plant.

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According to the Indian Navy, the estimated age of surplus electricity generated at the largest solar plant is 25 years and it will also feed the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) grid. It has all components indigenously sourced and includes 9180 highly efficient monocrystalline solar panels that use the latest technology.

Following all protocols and guidelines against COVID-19, the project is executed in a time-bound manner with all concerned agencies playing a key role.

Another 2 MW solar power plant has been inaugurated at Naval Station Karanja, Uran.

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The e-inauguration was inaugurated by Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, the first 2-megawatt capacity solar power plant has been set up at Naval Station Karanja. One of the largest solar plants in the region has 100 percent indigenously developed solar panels, tracking tables and inverters.

The Indian Navy said, "This plant art is interconnected using the state of single-axis sun-tracking technology, which has been computerized monitoring and control."

Adding, "This is one of the most important steps that have been undertaken by the Indian Navy in an effort to meet the naval station's power supply to use solar energy and a renewable source of energy."

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A 2 MW solar photovoltaic plant has been commissioned by Vice Admiral in Chief Atul Kumar Jain, Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command (ENC) at INS Kalinga, Visakhapatnam in May.

Currently, INS Kalinga, headed by Cmde Rajesh Debnath, has made significant progress in green initiatives, since it was established in the 1980s, and has included numerous plantation drives, coastal cleanup drives, afforestation, and protection of land heritage sites Is "Era Matti Dibbalu".

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The plant, which is the largest in ENC and has an estimated lifespan of 25 years. In order to complete the project despite a nationwide lockdown due to the global epidemic, all stakeholders including APEPDCL worked on a contingency plan that was based on the prescribed protocol.