By Greentech Lead Team: Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation
(AMC) and Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) have jointly implemented a
100 kilowatt solar power project for Memco sports complex located in north zone
of the city. The solar power system will power tube lights and fans installed
in the facility while high-powered halogen lights will run on conventional
electricity.
The project installed solar panels on the rooftop of the
sports complex at a cost of Rs 1.4 crore. According to GEDA officials,
installation and capital costs of these power generators are astronomical, it
is the long-term implications and savings they bag in five to 10 years.
“A public body should be the first to inculcate a
good practice. When funds are available other municipal buildings will too
sport these energy saving devices,” said deputy municipal commissioner S K
Langa.
The AMC plans to implement a similar project atop the
central office in Khamasa. GEDA is looking to popularize this medium in
commercial centres of any city where its benefits can be felt.
GEDA in the last few years have installed hybrid systems
across 18 state buildings, including the collector’s office in Gandhinagar. The
Udyog Bhavan, for instance, draws its basic power requirements from a hybrid
system of wind and solar energy sources for the last few years. Nearly, 13
blocks in the new secretariat and DDO and chief electrical inspector’s offices
have 10-kilowatt power plant each. If a photovoltaic plant works alone, the
cost of delivered electricity works out to be Rs 15 to 20 per kilowatt hour.