The Hindu : Business : Call for installation of solar water heaters to save energy

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Friday, Aug 29, 2008
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Call for installation of solar water heaters to save energy

Special Correspondent

It helps the State tide over the energy crisis

KOCHI: Installation of solar water heaters is mandatory for construction of apartments in several States in the country. The energy gain is substantial and helps the States to tide over the energy crisis. But Kerala is yet to initiate steps in this direction, according to Christo George, Managing Director of Hykon India Private Limited, a Kerala based company manufacturing solar water heaters, solar inverters, solar lighting systems and home UPS systems.

The builders in Kerala are not keen on installing solar water heaters in the apartment complex as it will increase the construction cost. Enforcement of a rule as in several States would change the scenario, benefiting the State as well as the individual consumer, he said. The subsidy offered by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy would be applicable to the solar water heaters.

Thus, much of the cost would be reimbursed, apart from the savings from the power bill. The solar segment is growing rapidly, but awareness is very low, he said.

Mr. Christo said the company has been engaged to install solar power generating plant at the Kerala University library campus at Palayam. The plant will generate power for more than 150 tubelights and 50 fans.

The university will get back its entire investment of Rs.15 lakhs within 5 years at the rate of an annual savings of more than Rs.3 lakhs, according to him.

The company has introduced a new range of inverters which can be used as a domestic inverter, home UPS or solar inverter. The 200VA model costs Rs.5,900 and the 300VA model costs Rs.8,500, including battery It has also introduced ECO model water heaters, available in 50 litre, 75 litre and 100 litre capacities. He claimed that the country’s first window collector solar water heater was introduced by the company.

The system could be installed on the windows of buildings. It would be suitable for flats in a multi-flat complex.

With the greenhouse gas emissions and climatic changes, India should more seriously think of boosting solar power generation capacity.

More and more institutions should come forward with the programme for tapping non-conventional energy sources, he said.

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