Indian Navy Sails towards Renewable Energy; 24MW Solar Projects under Execution

Besides, Indian Navy has also taken up few pilot projects which utilize wind or hybrid (both wind and solar) as a source of energy. These projects not only aim to reduce carbon footprint but also help achieve self-sustenance in energy security.

Demand for energy spurred over the past two decades on the back of unprecedented growth of Indian economy. In line with this, government’s energy policies saw a paradigm shift over the period and inclined more towards trimming carbon footprints through alternate energy sources.

With an aim to contribute towards achieving India’s energy and environmental goals, Indian Navy has developed a roadmap called Indian Navy Environment Conservation Roadmap (INECR).

The roadmap envisions ‘Reduction in Energy Consumption’ and ‘Diversification of Energy Supply’ as the key result areas.

Further, this INECR has been formulated with specific action plans covering the entire gamut of operations, maintenance, administration and infrastructure/ community living.

Under this Indian Navy’s roadmap, various policies have been discussed with an aim to cut energy consumption and environment sustenance for all its ships as well as shore establishments.

Further, it has pledged to contribute 1.5 per cent of its ‘Works’ Budget for the generation of renewable energy including solar photovoltaic (PV) projects being one of the focus areas.

Under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), solar PV projects of 24 MW comprising both rooftop and ground-mounted are already under execution at Indian Navy’s various shore establishments.

Besides, Indian Navy has also taken up few pilot projects which utilize wind or hybrid (both wind and solar) as a source of energy. These projects not only aim to reduce carbon footprint but also help achieve self-sustenance in energy security.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement that, it has paid focused attention towards the use of renewable sources of energy and institution of various energy conservation measures such as use of occupancy sensors, battery operated vehicles, solar street lights, LED lights, audit of yards, SCADA based electric metering etc.