Vidyut Soudha rooftop turns solar power generating unit

New grid-linked solar unit gives opportunity toA consumers to sell surplus power to Discoms Hyderabad: Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday visited the Vidyut Soudha rooftop solar power units, which have been set up on pilot basis. He also visited the net meter reading facility (NMRF) and the solar control room that are part of the unit. The Chief Minister, who came to Vidyut Soudha after adjournment of the Assembly session, was briefed about the system which produces 250 units of power per day. The officials explained that the surplus power being produced during morning and holidays would flow into the grid. "The extra power required during the peak hours at the Vidyut Soudha is drawn from the general grid," officials told Kiran. The NMRF can be installed with solar power plant at the unutilised space on roof tops, waste lands, buildings, industries, offices, educational institutions, hostels and commercial complexes. If the power generated at the solar power plant was surplus, it can be either be stored in a battery or can be sold to Discoms through the grid. During billing If the power consumed is more than the power produced, the consumer has to pay the charges on the extra power consumed. If less power is utilised than the power given to the grid, then the consumers can get monetary benefit also, explained officials. This new initiative is already being adopted in Western countries and Andhra Pradesh has been identified as a large potential area for solar generation. Minister for Housing Uttam Kumar Reddy, Principal Secretary (Energy) M Sahoo, Chairman and MD of APTransco Hiralal Samariya, MD of APGenco K Vijayanand and others were also present.