Soaring power bills and the increasing need for electricity have turned the focus on solar energy at several institutions and commercial establishments.
Even in the Nilgiris, the Lawrence School at Lovedale has gone in for solar energy systems that will be connected to the main grid.
According to Lakshmanan, facility manager at the school, the institution already has solar water heaters. These are helpful as the school needs hot water for about 800 students. The 30 kw solar energy panels that were erected recently will not only reflect on the energy bill of the school but also educate students on green energy.
In Coimbatore, sources say that a few educational institutions use photovoltaic panels. “With solar powered cooking, as much as seven LPG cylinders can be saved per day by institutions that have hostels,” says P. Senthil Kumar of Anoora Energy Concepts, Erode.
It is not just educational institutions but also several retailers and commercial establishments that have tapped solar energy through solar street lights and rooftop panels. “We have installed solar street lights and now save around 80 watts of electricity every day. The panels produce all the energy required for these lights. They turn on automatically in the evening,” says V. Selvaraj, electrical engineer at Chandra Hyundai.
Venkatesh of VeSat Solar Systems says that many industries, now use solar photovoltaic panels to produce steam. In a move to promote solar rooftop power systems and to encourage people to opt for solar energy, the Central and State Governments have schemes, such as net metering and subsidies for installation of rooftop systems. With increasing awareness, application of solar energy is also going up. There are incubators used for egg hatcheries, smart phone chargers, flashlights, refrigerators, water pump systems and much more.
