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.

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