Greentech Lead India: The University of Hyderabad (UoH) is one of the first universities in India to go solar.
UoH has set up a 100 KW solar panel to power the Indira Gandhi Memorial Library. The university has plans to expand the facility to other departments as well. The plant was inaugurated on Sunday.
UoH vice-chancellor Ramakrishna Ramaswamy on Sunday said the University has plans to set up a 9 MW power farm in a phased manner to meet the energy requirements of the University. The cost of setting up a solar plant is estimated to be around INR 6.6 crore for generating 1 MW of electricity.
However, the shift to solar is likely to reduce monthly electricity charges of Rs. 1 crore, according to official at UoH.
UoH, which has around 5000 students on campus, utilizes 13 lakh units of electricity per month to run its hostels, academic buildings and other residential buildings.
“The library consumes about 600 units of power per day, costing the university Rs 1 lakh per month towards power charges. The solar plant provides uninterrupted and stable power of 500 units per day and the whole system will last for a minimum period of 25 years,” Ramaswamy said.
UoH has shown its commitment to green initiatives earlier too. In one such initiative, the University has set up a solid waste management plant on campus.
Hyderabad is reeling under continuous power cuts especially during summer. The state, with abundant sunshine, is turning to solar power to address the growing power consumption needs thanks to rigorous urbanization in the state capital.
The government announced the Andhra Pradesh State Solar Policy on September 26th 2012. As part of the state’s plan to incentivize projects AP had removed all wheeling and transmission charges and allowed banking within the time frame of a year (except between February and June or within a single day).
The policy also includes exemption from Cross Subsidy Surcharges (CSS) and Electricity Duty, and a refund on Value Added Taxes (VAT) on all components of the plant and on stamp duty and registration charges on the purchase of land. RECs can be availed under the policy over and above the other incentives.