Solar farm helps SVVU cut power bill by half
Varsity is 100% green campus now, says Vice-Chancellor
Going ‘green’ is no more an option, but a pressing necessity. Understanding the imperative, the Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University (SVVU) has recently installed solar farm on 2.5 acre land on its vast campus in Tirupati, an initiative that helped it cut power bills by half.
The dream came true with the varsity inking a pact with the New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP) to set up the solar farm. Though roof-top panels are the in thing, SVVU went for installation of the 600KWp facility on the ground as most of its buildings are 60 years old, with varying holding capacities.
The SVVU becomes the first university in the State to install solar panels with single access tracking system, i.e., the panels move along the direction of the sun akin to the sunflower, thus tapping power with constant intensity throughout the day.
Lower tariff for 25 years
Against the ₹11-12 per unit coughed up earlier to the A.P. Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL) for drawing power from the grid, the varsity now pays a mere ₹6.25 per unit to the Chennai-based Rich Phytocare Private Limited, which executed the project on RESCO (Renewable Energy Service Company) model. “Under this model, the consuming agency (SVVU) need not invest a single rupee, but continue to pay a lower tariff to the implementing agency (RESCO) during the contract period,” says NREDCAP district manager C.B. Jagadeeswara Reddy.
The varsity accepted the offer as not only did the installation and maintenance come free of cost, but the tariff of ₹6.25 per unit was also fixed for the entire period of 25 years. “Our power bills came down by half in the recent months,” a brimming Y. Hari Babu, SVVU Vice-Chancellor told The Hindu.
The 600KWp generated on-ground is consumed by the varsity’s administrative building and the College of Veterinary Sciences, while the College of Dairy Technology draws 100 KWp from its roof-top facility. “As we are almost grid-independent, I can proudly say that we are a 100% green campus,” Dr. Hari Babu remarked.
No wonder, the facility has visitors from across the country to watch the tracking system work with precision.
Source: thehindu
