Bengaluru: State-owned defence major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has set up an 8.4MW wind energy power plant near Ilkal in Bagalkot district that will cover about 25 percent of the energy consumption at the public sector enterprise's Bengaluru-based divisions. A statement released by HAL said that the step was taken with a view to contribute towards the generation of green energy and to achieve self-reliance in fulfilling the electricity requirement of the PSU.

The plant, comprising of four wind turbines installed in collaboration with Suzlon Energy Limited, has the potential to generate around 260 lakh units per annum with an estimated annual savings of around Rs 18 crores to HAL

The plant was inaugurated by HAL's Chairman and Managing Director R Madhavan on January 23. "We are glad that through this green initiative, HAL would reduce its carbon footprint by around 25,000 tons of CO₂ emissions per annum. This project would cater to about 25 percent energy consumption at Bengaluru-based divisions. We are committed towards increasing the share of renewable energy in the overall energy consumption across the company," he said.

The plant, comprising of four wind turbines installed in collaboration with Suzlon Energy Limited, has the potential to generate around 260 lakh units per annum with an estimated annual savings of around Rs 18 crores to HAL, the official release said. This is the second wind energy project that HAL set up at a cost of about Rs 59 crore. HAL already owns a 6.3MW wind energy power plant near Davangere. A 3.5MW solar power plant is also operational at HAL Airport, Bengaluru. Together, the renewable energy plants will meet around 50 percent of the electricity consumption of Bengaluru-based divisions.