Kochi: Global solar team ‘finds’ Aditya light

Kochi: The International Solar Alliance (ISA) has evinced interest in procuring solar vessels on the lines of ‘Aditya’, the country’s first solar ferry deployed in Vaikkom-Tavanakkadavu section of Alappuzha district, based on the requirement of its member countries.

This is after a delegation of the ISA travelled in the solar-powered ferry operated by the State Water Transport Department the other day during a visit to the state.

Experts from ‘NavAlt’, the Kochi-based firm which built the vessel, explained the technical features and the benefits then.

“We’d a ride in Aditya..very happy to know that in five years you can recover the cost and solar energy in the rooftop made 66 per cent of their capacity requirement. We’re also happy to know that two more boats are under construction,” said Upendra Tripathy, Director General, ISA.

“The Government of Kerala can have an MoU with us so that these companies (from Kerala) can operate through them. We can take these projects to other countries. We’ll soon conduct discussion with the Ministry of Water Resources and the government…,” he said.

ISA is an alliance of 74 countries initiated by India and France formed in 2015 sharing the ambition to undertake joint efforts required to reduce the cost of finance and the cost of technology and mobilise required investments by 2030 for massive deployment of solar energy among others.

The delegation that visited the state on May 22 consisted of ambassadors/high commissioners of 25 African countries including Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria and Tanzania and also from countries like France, Brazil, Chile, Malaysia, Bolivia and Sri Lanka.

“We’re co-ordinating with member nations for understanding the solar ferry requirement and to make a requirement pool. We’ll look to fund such requirement with aid from the World Bank,” he said.