The first smart grid pilot project in Mysore, which is expected to cost around Rs. 32 crore, has been approved by the Ministry of Power. It will help address issues of efficiency, reliability and sustainability of power generation and distribution.
Workshop
M. Shanthi, Chief Engineer, Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC), announced this here on Thursday.
ADVERTISEMENT
She was speaking after inaugurating a three-day workshop on ‘Smart grid and facts’, organised by the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, National Institute of Engineering.
Ms. Shanthi said the Ministry of Power would fund 50 per cent of the total cost, while the rest would be borne by the CESC. Under the pilot project, part of V.V. Mohalla division would be covered such as the industrial areas of Metagalli, Hebbal, Hootagalli as well as Jayalakshmipuram, Gokulam, Vontikoppal, Vinayaka Nagar residential and urban areas, and Hoskote and Karakanahally rural areas.
A total of 14 feeders and 24,532 consumers as well as 580 irrigation pump-sets and 504 distribution transformers, would be covered, she added.
ADVERTISEMENT
Three major issues
The smart grid would look into user-supplier behaviour. It would address three major issues of efficiency, reliability and sustainability of power generation and distribution, according to Ms. Shanthi.
“The major objectives of the pilot project are to improve reliability, manage peak demand, lower electricity costs for consumers, reduce environmental impact such as greenhouse gas emissions, anticipate and respond to system disturbances and build operating efficiency of the electric power system,” she said.
Across India
R. Nagaraja, Managing Director, Power Research and Consultant Developments Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, said to integrate renewable energy into the grid, around eight to 10 smart grid projects were being implemented across India. He said that under the 13th Five Year Plan, the Union government had budgeted Rs. 2 lakh crore for these projects which would harvest renewable energy.
‘Evaluation needed’
M. Sreepada Rao, vice-president, NIE managing committee, said the evaluation of the outcome of the workshop was essential. Proper evaluation would give important pointers for research and development that were relevant to industry and academia, he said, while complimenting the department for organising the workshop.
G.L. Shekar, principal, NIE, and H.V. Saikumar, Head, Department of Electricals and Electronics Engineering, were present.
A total of 50 participants from across the State are attending the workshop.