Industries evince interest in solar projects

May 05, 2013 10:03 am | Updated June 24, 2016 03:14 pm IST - COIMBATORE:

Larger industries in Coimbatore region are exploring the possibility of going in for solar installations, especially in their wind farms.

Chairman of the Southern India Mills’ Association S. Dinakaran told The Hindu on Saturday it would be easy to maintain the solar panels if they were installed in the wind farms.

Evacuation of the energy generated would also not be a problem. Solar energy generation would be high in summer when wind energy generation would not be much.

Many mills had dedicated lines as they purchased the power required from third party.

The infrastructure could be used for the captive solar plants.

The units would have to meet the solar purchase obligation of the State Government and solar was another form of green energy.

“It is a good investment for long term,” he said. Bank finance at special interest rate would encourage more textile mills to go in for the solar energy.

A representative of the association added that some of the solar system providers were offering to invest in mega solar projects and have long-term purchase agreement with the mills.

Thus, the mills would not have to invest large amount in the solar plants but have assured supply of green energy.

This would be helpful especially because the industries were facing severe power shortage and had to depend on diesel generators or other sources for power.

There were several high tension industries in the region that were interested in 10 MW to 15 MW solar projects.

Further clarity in the solar policy of the government, especially on the implementation details, and effective operation of the single window system would encourage industries to invest in solar energy, say sources here.

However, a couple of industrial associations had approached the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity against the solar purchase obligation, which was mandatory for high tension industries in the State.

The State does not have adequate solar installations for the industries to purchase the required energy.

Many of them had already invested in wind mills which was a form of renewable energy.

The solar purchase obligation was on the total energy consumed by the industry, including the supply from the wind mills, say the industry sources.

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