College lightens AP Transcos burden

Vasureddy Venkatadhri Institute of Technology (VVIT), Nambur, has set up a solar energy generation plant, by installing solar panels on the roofs of college buildings, which saves the AP Transco 500 units of power on a daily basis.

“With the oncoming of summer, power woes are set to become a norm, and initiatives such as this are the need of the hour,” said college chairman Vasureddy Vidhyasagar.

A 100 KW plant was set up by installing 25KW solar panels on four buildings at a cost of Rs 70 lakh. The overall investment made by the institute was Rs 1.38 crore. The solar plant generates 400 units of power between 8 am and 4 pm, falling short of 100 units required by the college on a daily basis. Since power storing batteries are not available the additional power generated from 4 pm till dusk and during holidays is supplied to the power grid. With this initiative, the college is saving Rs 60,000 per month on power bills. Every month the college supplies excess power of 1,000 units to the power grid and the AP Transco pays for the surplus units at the rate of Rs 7.5 per unit.

“The college is inspiring many to tap into the benefits of solar energy,” the chairman added.