Prasads IMAX goes Green

South India’s First IMAX Theater, Worlds’ Largest IMAX 3D Screen, Prasad’s IMAX Theater on Necklace road in Hyderabad, earns yet another distinction of becoming the First Green Theater in India. A 100KWp Solar PhotoVoltaic power generation system has been setup on the rooftop of the theater under the leadership of Mr. Ramesh Prasad, the Chairman of Prasad Media Corporation Limited. It has been his long time passion to undertake solar power generation project. Using solar power offsets / reduces CO2 emissions and helps mitigate the imminent global warming problem. A movie theater going green is the first time ever in India.

It is an MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy) approved project, implemented through NEDCAP (Non-Conventional Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh). The system was designed, installed and commissioned by YesSV Energy and Infrastructure (P) Ltd.

This system will be inaugurated by Mr. Deepak Gupta, Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) on May 16th 2011.
Mr. Ramesh Prasad’s decision to take up green initiative on a building in the heart of the city with largest footfalls among all other multiplexes in the city and synonymous with family outing, goes a long way in spreading the green consciousness and awareness about solar power among general public. This gels well with Indian governments’ National Solar Mission that is aimed at permeating the usage of solar power and thereby reducing CO2 emissions.

The two most important components of a solar photovoltaic power generation system are solar PV panels and inverters. Solar PV panels were supplied by Solar Semiconductor Ltd, the leading panel manufacturer in India with strong presence in California, USA. The inverters were supplied by SMA, Germany. SMA inverters are known to be the best inverters in the solar industry. Mounting hardware used to hold the solar panels was specially designed for this application and to withstand highest wind speeds very possible at Hyderabad. The cable used for the plant is solar grade and like all other components are rated to withstand the warranted life of the system, which is 25 years.

The power generated by the 100KWp system services lighting loads, water pumps, other heavy and light loads as deemed right at that moment. The system doesn’t have any battery back up. Load is serviced during day time.
Due to this solar plant, there will be a definite and sizable offset in electricity consumption per month.

Though opting for Solar Power at this stage does not make any commercial sense, Prasad’s effort to go solar can be seen as the keenness of this visionary business group, to give back to the society. The group has been doing yeomen service to the community through their prestigious LVPEI – LV Prasad Eye Institute, for millions of people, and for over half of them free of cost.

Prasad group is synonymous to the Indian entertainment Industry. The Group’s founder Late Shri. L.V. Prasad was a doyen and a pioneer in the Indian Movie Industry. The flagship company of the Group Prasad Productions has a standing of nearly five decades in film entertainment. Under the leadership of its Chairman Mr. A.Ramesh, son of the legendary Shri. L.V. Prasad, over the years, its focus has been to constantly innovate and diversify into several aspects of film making, manifested in various spheres, such as Prasad Productions, Prasad Film Laboratories, Prasad Video Digital, EFX and now Prasad Media Corporation Limited.

Prasad Media Corporation now holds the distinction of bringing the first ever major entertainment center in India. The group has grown from strength to strength through pioneering technology and also diversified into related areas.

Prasad’s has taken a pioneering step on the green path for other multiplexes and business houses to emulate for our greener future.

Distinguished guest who graced the occasion are :

1. Dada Saheb Phalke Awardee , Padmavibhushan Dr.Akkineni Nageswara Rao- Director PMCL
2. Shri Chandan Mitra IFS- Managing Director, NEDCAP Ltd
3. Shri. Deepak Gupta, Secretary to Government of India, Ministry
of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
4. Shri Kishan Rao - Director PMCL
5. Shri Sadashiva Rao-Director PMCL
6. Shri Munindra IFS-Spl Secretary Dept. Of Energy - AP