Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor, has become a role model by switching over to non-conventional energy to meet most of its energy requirements.
Thanks to the proactive role played by Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, the sprawling 21-acre premises is now harnessing solar energy to meet over 70 per cent of its requirements.
The regular lights, televisions and other electronic gadgets run on solar power, while heavy load-drawing appliances like air-conditioners are dependent on conventional energy.
The main house, administrative block (Sudharma), security block and other buildings, barring heritage structures like Durbar Hall, are powered by solar energy. The Raj Bhavan here is the third in the country after Jammu & Kashmir and Gujarat to switch over to alternative mode of power supply.
The Governor’s principal secretary N. Ramesh Kumar said the daily energy consumption of the premises is around 250 units of which solar power contributes over 150 units, depending on the availability of the light.
The total installed generation capacity, including inverter, batteries and other paraphernalia, is 200 units (41.05 KWp) and this involved an investment of Rs. 96 lakh. Efforts are underway to replace streetlights on the Raj Bhavan premises with induction lights and solar lights, the officials said.
The solar lighting programme was sanctioned under the Special Area Demonstration Project of the Union New and Renewable Energy Ministry in 2011 with NREDCAP (Non-conventional Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Limited) designated the nodal agency for the project.
