A 120 kWp solar project contributes to a quarter of the temple’s annual power requirements
Tata Power Solar, India’s largest integrated solar company, has successfully commissioned a 120 kWp solar plant at the famous Bahá’í House of Worship, popularly known as Lotus Temple, located in New Delhi. Tata Power Solar collaborated with the Lotus Temple enabling them to take their first step towards going green and manage a quarter of their annual power requirement (i.e. 45600 units) through solar energy. This project will also help the temple displace nearly 120 tonnes of carbon dioxide (Co2) per annum.”
By employing the solar energy route, we want to set an example and encourage our followers as well as visitors to the Lotus Temple to take on a sustainable way of living. We have had a good experience working with Tata Power Solar and would like to thank them in enabling us to realize our green energy goals. The Bahá’í House of Worship is frequented by a number of foreign diplomats and the project has been highly applauded by them. This initiative is in line with our philosophy of being in harmony with nature and will go a long way in creating a sustainable solution.” commented Shaheen Javid, General Manager, Bahá’í House of Worship.
Commissioned within three months under SECI’s (Solar Energy Corporation of India) solar rooftop subsidy program, this project was set up using Tata Power Solar modules. Funded by the temple’s donations, the solar rooftop system is built on the temple’s existing accommodation facilities and basement. The project
design is harmonious with the distinctive architecture of the temple and, being the quietest form of energy generation, complements the serene environment.
The project comprises a Grid Tie system supported by a net meter, which allows for excess power generated to be fed back to the grid especially beneficial on closure days. This project, operational from February 2015, already had an estimated view of three million visitors. It has significantly facilitated the Lotus Temple to save around Rs 1.5 lakh as energy bills every month.
Speaking on the occasion, Ashish Khanna, ED & CEO, Tata Power Solar, said, “We are proud to partner with the Lotus Temple for a project of this nature, where a spiritual enterprise has taken the lead in using clean energy for their daily power needs. There is a strong need for collective effort in solarizing our country and initiatives such as this will help spread awareness on a larger scale while increasing access to clean energy.”
The Bahá’í House of Worship in New Delhi, which is considered as India’s symbol of communal harmony by the Government of India, was dedicated to the people of India and all humanity in December 1986.It exemplifies the essential principles of the Bahá’í Faith. It is a monument dedicated to the unity of God, unity of all religions and unity of humankind. It stands as another testimony to the efforts of the Bahá’ís of India towards the promotion of communal harmony, and unity in diversity. It attracts to its portals more than 5.8 million visitors of diverse religious backgrounds and nationalities every year.
Under its dome, people from all walks of life come and pray from various Holy Scriptures in supplication to the one Creator of all humanity. The Bahá’í House of Worship provides opportunities for children, junior youth and youth and adults to participate in spiritual classes for their all round growth and development. These activities exemplify the role of theBahá’í House of Worship in integration of worship with service which is a cardinal principle of the Bahá’í Faith.
The Bahá’í House of Worship also houses institutions of higher learning for intellectual training of the youth in order to prepare them formeaningful participation in social discourses. The contribution of the Bahá’í House of Worship to the Indian society gets its inspiration from this quotation from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, “Is not the object of every Revelation to effect a transformation in the whole character of mankind, a transformation that shall manifest itself, both outwardly and inwardly, that shall affect both its inner life and external conditions?”
