Massive news: Cricket Stadium in Kochi will be the third solar-powered stadium in the country

Solar power is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity. Solar Energy techniques were deployed worldwide since 2006. Solar technology is widely implemented in India. We have witnessed more of them in key places. Solar panels are installed in apartments, houses, offices. Four years ago, Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium became the world’s first solar-powered cricket avenue. Then Brabourne Cricket Stadium in Mumbai joined the list.

In the latest development if things as per the plan, Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium (JNIS) located in Kochi is all set to become the third solar-powered stadium in the country. GCDA has recently proposed to install the solar panels at a cost of Rs 4 crore. The project is to be executed with the help of CIAL Infrastructure Ltd, a subsidiary of Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) which recently accomplished the title of the world’s first solar-powered airport.

GCDA chairman V Salim told the media reporters that the plan was to generate 1 megawatt of power by installing solar panels on an area of 30,000 sq feet on top of the stadium. “Space is not a constraint for GCDA to erect the solar panels. If we install the panels on the roof of the stadium, it can generate nearly 4 Mwp. But at present, we are planning to generate one Mwp with a project cost of around Rs 4 crore. The CIAL has offered all the technical help to materialise the project,” said Salim.

He went on to add saying that through the project, the GCDA is fully focused at producing 1.2 lakh units of power a month. Salim also added that JNIS would be a first of its kind in the state to have a solar-powered system and the third in India. “At present, the stadium consumes around 3,7095 units of power every month.

For this alone, GCDA is spending nearly 2.6 lakh a month. If the project is completed, we can generate nearly 1.2 lakh units a month. The 82,000 units can be transferred to KSEB which can help to earn a revenue of 2.6 lakh a month. We can reach the break-even point within seven years,” added Salim.

GCDA is also planning to finish the project in another six months. “Discussion with CIAL is going on in full swing. The tender process will be started as per the technical specification of CIAL Infrastructure Ltd. A government sanction is inevitable to start the project. Soon it will be cleared and we hope the project would be completed within six months,” Salim said.