Greentech Lead India: Kerala State Electricity Board
(KSEB) plans to install solar plants on rooftops of 10,000 houses to generate
electricity. Each plant atop houses would have capacity to generate 1 kw of
power. The power generated will be distributed through KSEB lines.
Major part of the power is producing in Kerala from hydro
electrical plants; this is not enough to satisfy the state’s power needs. This
year the state is facing a severe power crisis due to the state government’s
decision to lower the water level in the Idukki dam so that it could act as a
buffer in the event of the breach in the Mullapperiyar dam.
Idukki dam, which at present generates 13.45 million
units of power daily, may go dry by the first week of April, leading to a
severe power crisis in the state.
The government expects these solar plant installations
will help the state generate more power and reduce the environment
issues.
Electricity Minister Aryadan Muhammed said in a press
meet that the details of financial assistance for setting up the plants and
sale price of the power generated would be announced after the budget,
according to media reports.
Each plants cost Rs two lakh and expected to produce
around 6 units of power daily from each house. Union Ministry for
Non-Conventional Energy would bear one-third of the cost of the project and the
state would provide an equal share. The state-owned Agency for Non-conventional
Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT) will carry out the project.
The government will ensure public participation in power
generation for this proposed project. An international conference on solar
energy would be held from March 13 to 15 in this connection.
Experts from US, Australia, UK, China, Taiwan, Singapore,
Japan, Germany and UAE would share their experiences in the field with the
public during the conference.