With solar energy, CME to be power-packed soon

The sprawling 3,600-acre campus of the College of Military Engineering (CME), housing approximately 10,500 individuals, is poised to incorporate a 2 Mega Watt (MW) solar power system, with plans for a potential upgrade to 12 MW within the next four to five years. This ambitious initiative not only aims to render the campus self-sufficient in terms of conventional power but also envisions contributing up to 7 MW to the national grid.

As a distinguished technical and tactical training institute for the Indian Army, CME extends its expertise to officers and personnel from the Navy, Air Force, Para Military Forces, and the police, conducting 130 diverse courses annually. The institution molds 1,800 military officers, 2,500 military personnel, 200 officers from allied foreign nations, and 150 civilians.

Operating as a self-contained village, the current power demand for the campus stands at 3 MW. During a recent media briefing at CME, Deputy Commandant Maj Gen HK Arora highlighted the installation of the solar power system as one of several developmental and expansion endeavors undertaken by the institute.

CME officials detailed the three-phase project aligned with the National Solar Mission. The initial phase involves setting up a 2 MW system, slated to be operational by December of this year. The subsequent phases entail the establishment of 5 MW solar systems, with completion anticipated over the next five years.

The current campus demand is 3 MW, but with upcoming expansion plans for faculty buildings, accommodations, and additional training facilities, the power requirement is expected to rise to 5 MW. With a potential generation capacity of 12 MW, the surplus of 7 MW is earmarked to be channeled back into the national grid. Officials from CME emphasize that discussions at the Ministry of Defence level have considered the prospect of returning surplus power, thereby not only achieving campus energy independence but also making a sustainable contribution to the national power supply.