The rooftops of all establishments in Coimbatore Corporation limits will soon turn energy generation stations with the civic body planning to install solar panels. The civic body in a recent resolution said that based on a Government Order from the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, the civic body proposed to install solar panels on the terrace of all its establishments.
The Order says: “The Urban Local Bodies have buildings constructed and maintained by them. The energisation of these buildings using solar energy has to be expedited. Solar rooftops should be provided in the buildings as per the specifications and advice provided by the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency.”
The order was based on the Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Policy, 2012. The Corporation resolution said that it would meet the expenditure required for the purpose from its General Fund.
According to Deputy Commissioner S. Sivarasu this was just one of the measures the Corporation had planned under the renewable energy project. The Corporation had prepared a comprehensive plan for renewable energy intervention in various sectors.
The total investment planned for the intervention was Rs. 1,329.17 lakh for a period of five years. The State Government or the local body concerned would contribute 14 per cent of the cost, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy 24 per cent and the rest would by the user or beneficiary.
Mr. Sivarasu said that the Corporation, as part of the project, would also establish a Solar City Cell to create awareness and publicise the benefits of switching over to solar energy. This would be at Rs. 48.30 lakh.
Under the pilot project, the Corporation had planned interventions at various sectors. It had planned to give solar lanterns for traders in markets, hawkers so as to replace their kerosene lamps. Similarly in the residential sector, the civic body would encourage photovoltaic system for home invertors, photovoltaic system to replace generators at houses, solar water heating systems and photovoltaic power plants for residential apartment complexes.
In the commercial and institutional sector, the Corporation would attempt to introduce community solar cooker for mid-day meals at its schools, solar water heater for hospitals, biogas system for restaurants, solar water heater for restaurants and photovoltaic system for education institutions.
He said that in the industrial sector, the Corporation would encourage industries to go in for solar water heaters and solar steam generators. And, in the government/municipal sector, the Corporation would work towards providing grid incentive for solar power plants, provide solar power plants and solar-powered water heaters at all its hospitals.
This would be in addition to street lights.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has accepted the Corporation’s proposal but has asked it to revise the draft. This would be executed in the next couple of days, the Deputy Commissioner added.
