Solar power for sports complexes

DDA also considers green energy units at its residential facilities

The Delhi Development Authority has decided to take a big green jump by installing solar power generating units at all its sports complexes.

The Commonwealth Games Village and Thyagaraja Stadium have already got solar panels. Official sources in the DDA say that the bigger game plan is to install solar power units across its residential complexes.

“Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, who is the chairman of DDA, has shown keen interest in alternative energy and wants to promote solar power to supplement the power availability in the city,” said a member of the DDA, who did not wish to be named.

If installing solar power panels at sports complexes turns out to be a successful venture, similar facilities will be arranged in housing projects to give the local residents some say in power usage and find a solution to the unending electricity shortage in Delhi.

The DDA’s Thyagraj Stadium, near INA market in south Delhi, has been generating 11 KV of power since solar panels were set up there during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The solar energy generation unit at this stadium caters not only to the sports complexes but also fulfils the need for power of private buildings in its vicinity.

Fourteen other sports complexes will get a similar solar facility, said an official.

Jung has instructed its officials to implement the project as soon as possible and also look at covering mini-sports complexes. He has instructed to ensure that all upcoming or new sports complexes to have an inbuilt facility for solar power generation. At a later stage, the facility will be extended to old sports complexes.

The DDA has taken a policy decision to use solar energy in all its sports complexes so that their reliance on supply from power distribution companies could be minimised.

A financial blueprint of the project is not yet ready; however, a senior official said funds would not be constraint for a green project like this.