The Bharathidasan University will soon sign pact with Bharath Heavy Electricals Limited, Bangalore, for setting up solar energy park on its main premises, said its Vice-Chancellor V.M. Muthukumar.
He told The Hindu here on Tuesday that it had earmarked five acres of land for placing solar panels to produce 1 MW of solar power. In the first phase, solar panels for producing 500 KW would be installed. It was estimated that it would cost Rs. 4.89 crore.
The main idea was to meet the university’s power requirement through self-sufficient method. It was identified that the campus had abundant resources of solar energy. It was a clean energy.
The varsity had decided to implement the project through a public sector undertaking.
Hence, BHEL, Bangalore, had been selected as the implementing partner. Preliminary discussions and project formulations had been completed to set up ground mounted grid interactive solar PV power plant. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be signed within a few days, Mr. Muthukumar said.
The BHEL would take up all works such as design, engineering, optimization, manufacture of panels and construction. It would take care of maintenance for two years from the date of commissioning the plant.
It was not only to reduce the electricity charges but also to showcase the importance of tapping the naturally available energy with easy and cost-effective ways. The project would be completed within eight months. Once commissioned, there would be no need for the varsity to get power from other sources.