Sonam Wangchuk is a Ladakh-based engineer, educational reformer, scientist, and highly intelligent human being. He has inspired the character of ‘Phunsukh Wangdu’ in the blockbuster movie 3 Idiots. He is the founder and advisor of SECMOL (Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh), which is a non-traditional school that has brought educational reform to Ladakh.
Sonam Developed A Solar Power Heated Tent
Sonam has developed a solar-powered heated tent for the Indian soldiers to stay warm in high altitude areas like Galwan valleys. This could be triggered after the Chinese infiltration in the Galwan Valley area, causing the soldiers to be active and alert in the extremely cold region. Therefore, this tent made by Sonam Wangchuk would prove to be of immense help to the soldiers.
Tent Is Fully Portable
This portable military tent would be heated through solar panels, and it can accommodate up to 10 soldiers at a time. Since the tent could be operated with solar energy, it is a great use of the renewable source of energy, making it highly sustainable. It uses sunlight, water, and insulated layers to maintain the temperature, and jawans would be able to keep themselves warm even when the temperature is as low as -14 degrees. Hence, the tent does not use kerosene for heating, and thus there is no pollution. Additionally, the costs of import and usage of kerosene from the Middle East would reduce substantially.
According to Sonam Wangchuk, one kiloliter of fuel is currently used for heating; this emits around three lakh metric tonnes of carbon dioxide. Therefore, the use of these solar-powered tents would reduce pollution. The tents are fully portable even for difficult terrains and weigh less than 30 kilograms.
Structure Of The Tent
Let’s look at the structure of this tent. It is divided into two parts- the greenhouse or solar lounge and the sleeping chambers. The tent’s front part is the greenhouse section that uses solar energy to be heated, and the rear end has a sleeping chamber, wherein the soldiers can sleep during the night. A windcheater also covers the tent to protect itself from the cold winds during winters.
SOLAR HEATED MILITARY TENT
for #indianarmy at #galwanvalley
+15 C at 10pm now.
Min outside last night was -14 C,
Replaces tons of kerosesne, pollution #climatechange
For 10 jawans, fully portable all parts weigh less than 30 Kgs. #MadeInIndia #MadeInLadakh #CarbonNeutral pic.twitter.com/iaGGIG5LG3— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) February 19, 2021
A clarification here…
It's not that the whole tent weighs less than 30 kgs, its… each part weighs below 30 Kgs, when disassembleled so they can be carried to mountain tops.
In the ultra light aluminum version less than 20 kgs.— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) February 24, 2021
The sun rays from the south enter the front part of the tent, and since the front chamber has polycarbonate, it does not allow the solar rays to exit the chambers. Even the sleeping chamber is covered by an insulator which prevents the heat from leaving the tent. There is no loss of heat owing to the round structure of the tent.
Solar Tent Production Cost
This tent’s production cost is around 5 lakhs. However, the current iron tents that the Indian Army uses cost 9 lakhs. It is half the size of the solar-powered tents. Therefore, it proves to be highly economical. Therefore, it is highly sustainable, environmental-friendly and even economical. Sonam Wangchuk also said that this tent’s aluminum version would be brought in a span of few months. This exceptional work by him has received accolades from all over the country.
Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube | Pinterest
Entertales is on YouTube; click here to subscribe for the latest videos and updates.
