TDB Plans Solar Power Plant Installation at Sabarimala

21 Jan 2025 CW Team

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is planning to establish a solar energy plant with technical assistance from Cochin International Airport (CIAL), recognised as the world’s first fully solar-powered airport. TDB officials stated that a meeting was held with S Suhas, Managing Director, CIAL, at Sannidhanam to discuss the initiative.

TDB President P S Prasanth mentioned that the discussion was preliminary in nature. He further informed that CIAL is preparing the detailed project report (DPR) and providing technical guidance for the project. Prasanth also revealed that the TDB intends to fund the solar plant using corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions.

Electricity distribution and transmission in the Sabarimala pilgrimage area is currently managed by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), a state-owned entity. According to TDB officials, the board spends approximately ?15 crore annually on electricity, and the proposed solar plant is expected to substantially reduce these costs.

Suhas explained that CIAL has already initiated activities to set up the solar power plant at Sabarimala as part of its social responsibility, without charging any consultancy fee. He indicated that the consultancy process would be completed within two months.

CIAL began its solar energy initiative in 2013 with a 100kWp pilot project and expanded its capacity in phases. By 2015, it became the world’s first airport fully powered by solar energy, achieving an installed capacity of 13.1MWp. Currently, CIAL's total installed solar capacity stands at 50MWp.

Infrastructure Urban

07 Nov 2025

Welspun Enterprises Wins 910 MLD Panjrapur WTP Contract

Welspun Enterprises (WEL), the infrastructure and energy arm of Welspun World, has secured a major contract from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to design, build and operate a 910 million litres per day (MLD) Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at Panjrapur, Maharashtra.Valued at approximately Rs 31.45 billion, the project encompasses end-to-end civil, mechanical, electrical and instrumentation works, including the construction of a treated water sump and pumping station. Of the total value, nearly Rs 11.56 billion is allocated to Operations & Maintenance (O&M), with an additional..

Mitsubishi Power Wins Boiler Upgrade Contract for O Mon 1 Plant

Mitsubishi Power, a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, (MHI), has been awarded a contract to support the oil-to-natural-gas fuel conversion at the O Mon 1 Thermal Power Plant in Can Tho, southern Vietnam. As the OEM of the plant’s existing boiler, Mitsubishi Power will supply key equipment—including new gas burners—and implement a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system to reduce NOx emissions and help the plant meet stricter environmental standards.The O Mon 1 facility includes two 330 MW units that commenced operations in 2009 and 2015, with all major equipment or..

Liebherr’s 10,000th XPower Wheel Loader Joins BERGER’s Fleet

BERGER Rohstoffe GmbH has welcomed the 10,000th Liebherr XPower wheel loader to its operations at the Schlag granite quarry in Passau. The milestone machine, officially handed over at Liebherr’s Bischofshofen plant in May 2025, underscores the long-standing partnership between BERGER, Liebherr, and the Beutlhauser Group. Equipped with Liebherr’s signature power-split travel drive, the new L 580 XPower is already delivering strong results under demanding quarry conditions.At the Schlag quarry, BERGER Rohstoffe processes approximately 200,000 tonnes of Bayerwald granite annually into high-qu..