Following the success of Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) in generating enough solar power to operate the airport, the Kerala State Electricity Board’s (KSEB) solar power project on the campus of the 110 KV substation at Edayar is also scripting a new saga.The 1.25 MW solar power project at Edayar was the KSEB’s first such project in the district. It was on September first week that Edayar solar project was launched by Power Minister Kadakampally Surendran.According to the officials of the substation, even during the adverse climatic conditions of September, when the sky remained overcast most of the time, the solar panels were able to generate 6,000 units of electricity daily.
“The solar panels have been set up on nearly six acres of land. It is comparatively a smaller unit as compared to the one at CIAL. We have nearly 5,000 panels, two transformers,two inverters and related infrastructure here. Even under the present climatic conditions, we are generating nearly 6,000 units daily. We hope that in the coming months and during summer, the production will likely go up,” said M P Mathukutty, Assistant Engineer, 110KV substation, Edayar.Mainly, Edayar substation provides power to the nearby industrial belt. The total power requirement of the area is 45 MW. According to the official, the power generated by the solar panels is directly boosted to the transformer which will indeed help to reduce the load. The energy thus saved by reducing the load can be supplied to the other consumers.
The solar panel project has been set up with the support of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) at an estimated cost of ` eight crore. Buoyed by the success of Edayar project, the KSEB will start its second project near Muvattupuzha substation .Meanwhile, various other public sector units and government agencies too have come up with a similar initiative to switch to solar power which is more cost effective and less polluting. The Indian Aluminum Company (IAC) situated at Kuttikattukara near Eloor industrial area has also installed solar panels on nearly seven acre of land near its office. Some agencies like the Greater Cochin Development Corporation Authority (GCDA) has already completed the installation of solar power panels at their administrative office at Kadavanthra.
Source:The New India Express
