India’s first fully sustainable alternative energy building, the Solar Dome, located in New Town, was inaugurated by Bengal’s Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim, on Tuesday, November 5.

The massive structure utilises 2,000 solar panels fitted on the outside to generate 180 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy, which power the facility’s internal lighting and a few street lights in the surrounding area.

There are two types of solar panels on the dome, which generate 150 Watt-peak (Wp) and 260 Wp of energy (Watt-peak is a measure of the maximum power output a solar panel can produce under standard test conditions (STC)).

The dome is 28.950 metres (m) high and has a diameter of 45 m. It covers an area of 2.89 acres. Eco Park visitors are allowed entry without any extra fee. The nearest way to reach the solar dome is through gate number 4 of Eco Park.

There are five storeys inside, and the structure houses a museum, among other things. The levels are connected by with spiral ramps, and there is a viewing gallery at the topmost level. There are also plans to house a planetarium and a marine aquarium.

The museum contains information on renewable energies, such as tidal energy, geothermal energy, wind energy and solar energy. There are also stands with information regarding the rising sea level, global warming and climate change, and how they affect the earth, and on how we can save the planet even by doing certain small tasks such as refusing to use plastic and other such activities in our day-to-day lives.

The Solar Dome, thus, aims to educate visitors on the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling through exhibits on renewable energy and sustainable living practices.

The project has been jointly executed by West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (HIDCO) and West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company (WBSEDCL) at a cost of Rs 30 crore.