Solar power capacity to be increased by leaps and bounds
PNS|Hyderabad
After implementing Harita Haram to increase forest cover, the Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation (TSREDCO) has embarked on an ambitious plan to increase solar energy capacity. As part of it, solar panels have been installed at Integrated District Offices’ Complex (District Collector) to cut down electricity bills by at least 80 per cent.
Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao will formally inaugurate the 100-KW solar power plant installed on the rooftop of the Integrated District Offices’ Complex in Suryapeta on August 20. The plant produces 1.44 lakh units of power and saves Rs 11.23 lakh towards electricity bills. The cost of installing solar panels on the rooftop would be recoverable in 5.5 years.
According to TSREDCO, a 200 MW rooftop solar power plant at Khammam Integrated District Offices’ Complex is linked to the power grid. In parking areas, too solar panels have been provided. The Collectorate and district offices use 28,000 units a month, which includes HT power of 14,000 units. However, the 200 KW solar plant produces 24,000 units per month reducing the dependence on the power grid largely. As such, the complex needs to draw only 4,000-5,000 units a month from the power grid greatly reducing the electricity bill.
Currently, the complex gets a monthly power bill of Rs 1.80 lakh. The bill will come by at least 80 per cent with the installation of the solar power plant. Solar power would save power bills up to Rs 23 lakh per annum. The expenses incurred in establishing the power plant would be recoverable in 6.5 years. The 100 KW installation of rooftop solar power plants is under way in Rangareddy District Collectorate complex and Kamareddy Collectorate complex.
The TS REDCO will maintain the solar power plants for 20 years. The TSREDCO chairman Y Satish Reddy has stressed the need for increasing the solar power capacity.
