The move will help inculcate awareness among the public, Corporation officials feel
For the first time, the Chennai Corporation is venturing to install roof top solar panels of different wattage atop school and hospital buildings. It has called for tenders for installing one five-kilo-watt and five one-kilo-watt power producing panels. This move will allow the civic body to reduce its electricity bills and be more environment-friendly.
“This will be done on a trial basis. After gauging the performance, we will expand to more buildings. We already have solar-powered street lights in slum areas. Solar power installations in schools and hospitals will create awareness among children and the public about the need to use renewable energy,” said a civic body official.
Sources said the corporation was trying to explore possibilities with such installations. It plans to try out systems with and without battery backup. The latter would have supply backup from the grid.
It also plans to try out hybrid renewable systems that come with solar and wind energy in areas like Tiruvottiyur and Sholinganallur. The civic body is collecting data for such systems .
A one kilo watt (one kilo watt equals 1,000 watts) unit without battery backup can support several tubelights and fans for a minimum of six hours and those with battery can go up to 10 hours.
P. Parthasarathy of Sunbind Renewable Energy, who has been in the business for over 30 years now, says standardised systems have come to stay. And with a Central government subsidy of 30 per cent, it has become very fashionable for even individual homes to have roof-top solar power panels.
“The units that come with special batteries that run for a minimum of 5 – 7 years have a life time of 15 to 20 years. And the battery and solar panel require very minimum maintenance. Even if there is no sunshine for three days, the battery backup will take care,” he explained.
Keywords: solar panels, solar power, hybrid renewable systems, renewable energy
It is really interesting to note that Chennai is positioned on fast track in the matter of solar panels installation in roof tops. The Chennai Corporation's move in this direction has to be appreciated. Tapping of solar energy to mitigate the difficulties of common man from power crisis is our current objective.
Further, this technology may be implemented for residential buildings too. Government of Tamil Nadu in consultation with Govt of India, should extend subsidy to the residents of Chennai, so that the benefit of solar power reaches to each and every home.Once the technology is implemented and success rate is confirmed, it may be taken on upstream to other states in India. Goverment of India as well as Tamil Nadu Govt should bring out innovative programmes for College/school students in India to unfold their inherent talents in solar power, put them into experiment and implement them if feasible.
The Govt's plan at this critical juncture more especially when the world is starving for power is the need of the hour. The move initiated by Chennai Corporation is to be appreciated and can say it is commendable. I think Corporation of Chennai is a good trend setter for other cities in india. The initiative, the fast track installation of solar panels at different places are strong indicators of Chennai emerging as a "Solar City". I wish the Corporation of Chennai a grand success in all its endeavours
Excellent move by the Chennai Corporation. Hurray for Chennai!!
The CM has made a wise and courageous decision and this is definitely an excellent idea. Hope that while the usage expands quickly that the reliability of these systems improves.
This kind of initiative is really what the world requires now. The whole world will be benefited. Govt should encourage more similar initiatives and slowly we can hope to live in a world free of pollution and healthy climate.
Though there are Town&Country Planing dept rules existing about the need
for installing solar water heaters in all public buildings, the corrupt
officials have permitted them without any of these. Govt of India has
been subsidizing so many solar products but the public has not taken to
it intensively. Instead of the various promotional efforts that had gone
wasted hope the present steps become fully operational for many years to
come.
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