Solar mission is being aggressively pursued in Madurai Kamaraj University and plans are afoot to set up roof top solar panels in at least 10 buildings on the campus.
The ‘go solar' drive has been taken up following a keen interest shown by the Vice-Chancellor, Kalyani Mathivanan, who has asked the School of Energy, Environment and Natural Resources to prepare proposals for the solar energy project.
“Our university is now focusing on ‘go green' campaign. As a part of that initiative, the Vice-Chancellor had a meeting with us in which she asked us to prepare proposals to be forwarded to the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy,” A. Sundaram, Head and Chairperson, School of Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, told The Hindu on Saturday.
He said that the university would be ready with proposals in the next 10 days for submission to the Ministry to get Government subsidy.
Prof. Sundaram informed that the varsity was planning to cover about ten buildings and generate at least 10 KV of power through solar panels. “The solar panels will be north facing so that radiation can be tapped to the maximum. Total cost of this solar project will be around Rs.30 lakh,” he added.
A one KV solar plant with eight solar panels was inaugurated on the MKU campus last month by the Union Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office V. Narayanasamy during a three-day international workshop and conference on renewable energy.
“Once the university starts tapping solar energy in a big way, it will definitely lead to substantial savings in electricity bill. The life of solar panel is 20 years and it requires only periodical maintenance,” Prof. Sundaram said.
