Campus push for solar power

Updated on: Friday, June 25, 2010

The West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation (WBGEDC) is going all out to introduce rooftop solar panels in the city. It will approach schools and colleges to install solar panels and a unique meter from Australia and Germany to measure solar power consumption.

“There are around 2,500 educational institutes in the city. Even if a thousand respond, it will be a major boost to our effort,” said WBGEDC managing director S P Gon Chaudhuri. Schools and colleges will get special grants to install the panels and smart meters.

“These meters are not manufactured in India. We are getting a few from abroad for tests by the CESC. Only these gadgets can measure consumption of solar power,” he said.

The objective is to bring down consumption of electricity. “Once the solar panels are installed, the power they generate will be put directly into the CESC grid. The meters will measure exactly how much solar power is being produced and fed into the grid,” Gon Chaudhuri said. “Each of these meters costs around Rs 5,000. We will see if the Centre can give grants for their installation.” Gurudas College became the first in eastern India to directly feed the grid with solar power generated from rooftop panels.

The state government expects to generate 115MW solar power by March 2013, which will require an investment of about Rs 1,500 crore. At present, Bengal produces 15MW of solar power.

The WBGEDC and pollution control board are already working on framing mandatory norms for developers of highrise buildings in the city to install solar panels. Once this rule gets effective, use of solar power will increase manifold and much of the power could be connected directly with the grid. To increase a solar panel’s power generating capacity by 5%, WBGEDC is also trying to introduce a special coating on them with foreign expertise.

Campus push for solar power

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