PUNE: The College of Military Engineering (CME) will soon have a 5 MW solar power system as part of the larger plan to meet its power requirement and also contribute to the national grid.
In September this year, the Pune zone chief engineer of the Military Engineering Services (MES) released a notice calling for tenders relating to the 5MW solar power system at CME. The project is estimated to cost Rs 33 crore.
The CME wants to establish its own solar system to generate adequate power not only to cater to its own electricity needs but also to the national grid. The project has been sanctioned in two phases.
A senior army officer associated with the project told TOI on Friday, “Earlier, it was decided to generate 12 MW power in three phases. In the first phase, 2 MW would be generated and the rest in two equal instalments. Currently, we have completed the contract procedure for 2 MW. The second phase procedure will commence in coming days.”
Sources said that CME’s current requirement is around 3 MW. “Considering the future expansion plans of the college, generating additional power will be a prudent move. Thus, the project has got its own importance and has been taken up at the highest level,” he added.
The college conducts about 130 courses for commissioned and junior commissioned officers (JCO) every year and trains over 1,450 officers, 2,200 JCO and 175 nationals from friendly countries.
Per sources, the monthly expenditure for electricity run into lakhs of rupees and, therefore, the project is vital for the college.
“Once the project is operational, it will save us nearly Rs 7 crore annually,” an officer said. “A decision related to the third phase will be taken in the near future,” he added.
In January, CME authorities had claimed that the solar power project was part of several new developments and expansion initiatives and that the authorities wanted to eventually have a 12MW solar power system over course of the next four to five years.
On reaching the 12MW capacity, CME would be in a position to contribute surplus power to the national grid, the authorities there said.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes
