The Hindu       02.03.2017  

Corporation to promote solar energy in a big way

Green power:Solar panels installed atop the ‘Anna Maaligai’ in
Madurai Corporation buildings to generate power for its
consumption.Photo: G. MoorthyG_Moorthy
 

Every month, the civic body saved almost 50 % in the power bill as each kW capacity of solar panel generated 3 to 4 units

The civic body that has installed 44 kW capacity solar panels atop
the roof of Anna Maaligai, its office, at a cost of Rs 55 lakh in 2016, a
first-of-its-kind in Tamil Nadu, is reaping the benefits now
handsomely.

In the last 10 months, its power bill has come down
steeply. Every month, the Corporation saved almost 50 % in power bill as
each kW capacity of solar panel generated 3 to 4 units of electricity,
said Commissioner Sandeep Nanduri.

Following the success, it has now planned to identify similar buildings for installation of solar panels.

Speaking
to The Hindu, he said that the Corporation had around 350 buildings,
big and small. “We have chosen 156 among them for installing solar
panels. Proposals to establish solar panels with a capacity of 466 kW is
ready,” he added.

Buildings with good space to install solar panels and collect sun rays without dilution have been identified for the purpose.

“With
peak summer setting in the next 100 to 150 days, the demand for
electricity is bound to go up. Thus, by generating our own electricity,
power bills will decline and result in savings for the civic body. Above
all, switching over to alternative power generation will encourage
residents also to opt for green energy,” Corporation officials and
senior engineers in charge of installing solar panels said.

“Maternity
homes, schools, tax collection centres and overhead water tanks of the
Corporation are some of the buildings to benefit from solar panel
installations,” Assistant Executive Engineer Senthil said and noted that
with many people coming into solar panel trade, installation and
procurement of panels would be cheaper now than the 2016 levels.

Maternity
home staff in Sellur said that the proposal to install solar panel on
the premises was welcome as the in-patients would have uninterrupted
power when TANGEDCO shutdown electricity for maintenance work. Similar
views were echoed by staff at the computerised tax collection centres,
where solar panels will give steady supply without interruptions.

Billing cycle

The
Anna Maaligai, which used to get a bill of Rs. 1.47 lakh per month, has
been getting power bills for around Rs. 75000 a month in the last 10
months. As for the maintenance of solar panels, the officials said the
cost was negligible.

Presently, the Corporation consumes the power
generated from its solar panels at Anna Maaligai, while it has planned
to explore the possibility of inviting bidders to sell surplus
electricity through power purchase agreement.

First in State

Among
the 12 Corporations in the State, Madurai Corporation was the first to
go the solar way, officials said. A commendable and noteworthy project
indeed.