An energy-efficient submersible pump that has been designed by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, in collaboration with power distribution company BYPL was unveiled here on Friday. The Renewable Energy Assisted Pump (REAP) System is an easy-to-install submersible pump connected to a water tank with a specially designed motor powered by a solar panel.
The REAP system is the first of ‘SMART' products that will be developed as a result of the collaboration between IIT-Delhi and BYPL. The system was unveiled by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit at a function organised in Mayur Vihar. The first REAP technology has been installed in a plot owned by the All-India Panchayat Parishad (AIPS)
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Dikshit said REAP technology is relevant for today and will continue to be relevant for the future as well by reducing the consumption of power during the morning peak hours when most of the customers have to switch on their pumps for getting water.
The technology, she said, will also prove to be useful for agriculture, hospitals, schools, hotels, restaurants, malls and group housing societies in the city.
“A solar panel will harness the energy of the sun to become the basis of bringing energy to the doorsteps of the users in urban areas as well as to farmers in rural areas. The panel can be connected to the pump which helps to draw ground water and store it in an overhead tank. REAP has a capacity to draw 30,000 litres of water per hour,” said the Chief Minister, expressing hope that the pilot REAP project will prove to be successful and help Delhi become a carbon-neutral city.
Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, who is also the chairperson of the All-India Panchayat Parishad, said AIPS will become the largest user of this system. He said the Government has been concentrating on renewable energy practices and REAP is a step forward in this direction. Apart from being useful in urban areas it will certainly help farmers in overcoming their dependence on electricity for their agricultural purposes, he said.
Delhi Power Minster Haroon Yusuf said REAP would help in overcoming wastage of water as it has an inbuilt auto-cut off, sensory mechanism.
According to a BRPL official, the REAP system is capable of meeting water storage and pumping needs in both rural and urban India. “The pump is a result of the research and technology MoU between BYPL and IIT-Delhi for improving the value proposition for the power consumer by leveraging next-generation ‘SMART' technology.”
The system is aimed at reducing global warming and other green house effects and reducing dependence on the fossil fuel generated electricity supply.
Referring to the advantages of REAP, a BYPL official said it has a capacity of pumping 25,000 litres of water per day with seven hours of sunlight, has low energy consumption – consumes 600 Watts visa-a-vis 3.5 kW for a conventional pump and can work alongside the existing conventional system. The official said the technology involves low maintenance and zero operating costs, which will help recover the investments in about three years.
