Thiruvananthapuram: Solar panels to dot 5 major buildings in capital soon

Thiruvananthapuram: The city corporation is gearing up to install solar panels at five major public buildings as part of the Smart City initiative. The locations are Legislative Assembly complex, Government Women's College, Attukulangara Government High School, Kerala University Library and State Central Building.

An official said that the tender would be invited for installing solar panels at these places in a week or two. "The project is estimated to cost around Rs 5 crore. Our aim is to generate 600  kilowatt of electricity. The project has been on hold because of the election code of conduct," said the official.

Town Planning Committee chairman Palayam Rajan said that solar power is the future of energy. "Adopting green energy solutions is one way to protect the environment that would help save on power bills. We are just piloting the initiative and gradually every public building in our jurisdiction will be powered with solar energy. In the long run, the project will enable the civic body to make huge savings in power bills," he said.

The excess energy generated would be shared to the power grid of the KSEB. "Public offices function normally from morning till evening and the rest of the excess energy could be easily shared with the KSEB," he added.