Power dept mulls solar water heating systems on various government buildings
Kolkata: In a bid to develop alternative energy resources, the state Power department has been chalking out an elaborate plan to install solar water heating systems on various government buildings. According to sources, the West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA) has undertaken a project to install solar water heating systems on various buildings across the state. The main purpose was to generate an alternative resource of energy which could be utilised for heating water used for various kitchen purposes.
As per the initial plans, around 100 solar water heating plants would be installed on various government buildings. The state Power department has given a huge thrust on the development of alternative source of energy in the state. Stressing on the development and promotion of renewable energy, the power department has a target to install solar water heaters on school, college and government buildings, including destitute homes. The equipment would be installed at hostels under the state backward class development department and social welfare department.
Warm water would be prepared by these plants that will be directly supplied to the kitchens of these buildings through a pipeline. The water can be used for various purposes like cooking, washing and other household works by the inmates of the hostels. These solar heating plants will last for 12-15 years and contribute to the cost cutting strategy. The initiative will save the consumption of the LPG gas, thereby cutting down the expenditure of the government buildings.
According to an estimate, on an average, a hostel or any other government building can save at least Rs 8,250 when a building uses water heating plants instead of LPG. It may be mentioned that WBREDA has already installed the solar water heating systems at the Administrative Training Institute, Police Training College and Ichhapur Rifle Factory. It was learnt that the solar water heating plants will have a capacity of 300 and 500 litre per day (LPD) respectively. The capacity of the plants will mostly depend on the requirement of the building. According to sources in WBREDA, a solar plant of 300 LPD capacity will be installed at a hostel, where there are at least 125 inmates. If there are 150-200 people at a government hostel or any other building, the capacity of the solar plants will be around 500 LPD.
Two solar heating plants each having a capacity of 500 LPD will be set up on a building where there are around 1,000 inmates. The power department has already taken an elaborate scheme to install solar plants on roofs of various schools, colleges and other government buildings under “Aloshree”, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s dream project.
Source: millenniumpost.in
