Education institutions opting for solar power in a big way

Kakinada: Several educational institutions in East Godavari district are opting for solar power in a big way as it provides uninterrupted power. In addition, the institutions can also avail subsidy offered by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). 

The cost of solar power plant installation will be between Rs 5 to Rs 6 crore per one MW (1,000 kw ) depending on the system selected.   Societies and educational institutions can get subsidy of 30 per cent on the cost of installation up to 500 kw. For government sector, the subsidy offered on the cost of installation is to only up to 20 per cent.  As many as 24 educational institutions opted for solar power in 2017 and 2018.

Some of the  major institutions which got the solar installations are GSL intuitions at Rajanagaram 335 KV, BVC institutions at Allavaram, Amalapuran and  Rajanagaram together 240  KW,  Ramachandrapuram Educational Society, Ramachadrapuram 150 KW, Aditya Engineering College, Suampalem 500 kw , Aditya  Engineering College, Adityanagar,Kakinada 500  kw and  AKN university Rajamahendravaam 400 kw are some among them which have solar power plant installations and saving big on power consumption.

The AP Transco purchases extra power generated from the consumers who opt for roof top installations at the price of Rs 5.82 per unit and this has been an encouraging factor to the private multi-storied buildings to go for solar power. 

According to APEPDCL Kakinada Divisional Engineer N  Udaya  Bhaskar, there are 80 consumers in 11 mandals under Kakinada  division who opted for solar rooftop installations from NREDCAP (New and Renewable Energy  Development Corporation of AP) with 30 per cent subsidy on cost of installations. The AP Transco install the excess  power transmitting system to state grid at free of cost to the power supplier.

In January this year, the 80 consumers have supplied 38,000 units  and consumed 49,000 units. The APTransco  pay for the power  in units supplied  in the form of  excess power by the consumers. “We are hoping for improvement in generation during the summer as the  solar power generation depends on the heat from the sun,’’ the DE said.