ENVIS Centre: Karnataka
State of Environment and Related Issues

Enough space available on the rooftop gives them the advantage: Educational institutions across the city plan to make hay while the sun shines as they evince interest in implementing the solar rooftop project of the Bangalore Electricity Company (Bescom) Limited. It is a grid connected programme wherein Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Systems will be installed on rooftop, and connected to electricity grid.

Schools and colleges are expected to generate more power than other sectors taking up the project. Educational institutions stand to gain by the project as most of them consume power mostly during the day. Besides, they have enough space on the terrace where large solar panels can be installed. Giving details about colleges that have come forward to generate solar power, L. Lakshmipathy, Bescom’s nodal officer for the Solar Rooftop Photovoltaic (SRTPV) system project, said Siddaganga Institute of Technology at Tumakuru had sought permission to generate 500 KW while St. Joseph’s College in Bengaluru had sought permission to generate 100 KW. Dr. Sr. Arpana Principal, Mount Carmel College, Autonomous, confirmed that the college will get the solar rooftop panels installed.

Besides educational institutions, even industries, pharmaceutical laboratories and godowns can choose to generate power under the Solar Photovoltaic Rooftop project, Mr. Lakshmipathy added. Bescom Managing Director Pankaj Kumar Pandey said here on Wednesday that they had received as many as 129 applications in the period between November 10 and 18. To queries on the slow start to the project, Mr. Pandey said that institutions and organisations can voluntarily opt to enlist themselves with Bescom and generate solar power under the project. Many of them were trying to seek clarifications before deciding to invest. According to him, south and east Bengaluru will benefit significantly from solar power generation as the existing overload will be supplemented.

According to Bescom authorities, four applicants have been granted permission to start power generation, and the solar panels have been installed and commissioned.

Those implementing the project will be billed based on the quantity of power generated and consumed. Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission has fixed the tariff at Rs. 9.56 a unit for non-subsidised plants, and Rs.7.20 a unit for plants that have got 30 per cent government subsidy.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/many-city-schools-colleges-evince-interest-in-solar-power-generation/article6615631.ece