Science attractions in Kolkata just got an addition in the first week of November with the opening of Solar Dome, touted as India’s renewable energy museum beside the herbal garden, next to gate number 6 of Eco Park. The dome-shaped structure, spread over three acres, was inaugurated by the state urban development and municipal affairs minister Firhad Hakim. Besides internal lighting, it will also light up the surrounding streetlights with the energy it generates. Developed by the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (Hidco) at an approximated Rs 30 crore, the 27m high dome with a diameter of 45m has 2,086 solar panels of 150 and 200 watts for continuous generation of energy throughout the day
Photographs by Soumyajit Dey
At the entrance, a smart electric vehicle doubles up as a vehicle of the future in the lobby-cum-atrium. A humanoid robot, which can rotate its neck, move its hands and speak, greets visitors on sensing human presence. Next to it stands a shorter robot. While there are two humanoid robots, there are six of the shorter ones, called Curio
The lower part of the fully air conditioned dome has information stands 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, climate change and how they affect the earth
The climate change timeline is displayed on a wall, while an electronic globe maps the rising temperatures over the years of each region that the user wants to track. Six tunnels have inverted U-shaped LCD screens that show causes of the climate crisis through spectacular sights of glacial melting, wildfires and oil spills
