Rooftop solar panels on 300 govt buildings

Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA), the nodal agency to promote renewable energy, has floated bids to install seven-kilo watt grid tied solar rooftop power plants at 300 government buildings.

According to TEDA sources, the solar rooftop systems would be installed at 50 panchayat union offices and remaining in the 234 assembly constituencies. The buildings in the assembly constituencies would be identified shortly, sources said, adding that once the contract is awarded, the solar system would be installed within 90 days.

The work on installing 30 kilo watt solar plant in secretariat would begin shortly. In Fort St George, government building housing the secretariat, will have a 10 KWp solar plant while 10 floor Namakkal Kavignar Maligai will have a 20 KWp plant. “Though the work order was issued long back, the renovation works in the secretariat delayed the works,” the sources said, pointing out the commissioning of 25 KWp plant at Raj Bhavan and 60 KWp system in TNEB headquarters.

According to TEDA estimate, a kilowatt capacity solar PV plant would be nearly generating 1,600 units per annum. With the installation of 300 seven KWp solar plants and 30 KWp plants in secretariat, the government buildings would be nearly generating 34.08 lakh units of energy a year.

As per the solar energy policy 2012, the government envisages to add 3,000 MW to the grid. All the new government buildings would be constructed with rooftop solar system while existing strucutres would get these units in a phased manner.