Solar power to ward off energy tariff fluctuations in West Bengal

Solar power to ward off energy tariff fluctuations in West Bengal

By NewsGram Staff Writer

Solar energy is the most equipped and organized available source of energy. It does not belong to any single individual but for every living creature. It is also one of the most important non-conventional sources of energy because of its non-polluting element, which also helps in reducing the greenhouse effect. Hence, it is the best form of energy, which can be used when the power tariff is touching the roof.

A government housing complex towering over Dhakuria Lake, Kolkata, is showing the way to have immunity against power tariff fluctuations, as a resident named Avijit Ghosh has decided to fix the problem of high and inconsistent power bills himself.

Ghosh is an energy technologist with Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CGCRI), who conceived the plan and installed the solar power plant fighting against many odds on the rooftop of a housing apartment meant for the scientists of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

After a year of observation, he was so jubilant with his successful experiment that now he wants to emulate and install it on every rooftop of the city.

Professor Indranil Manna, director IIT-Kanpur, who as the director of CGCRI encouraged Ghosh out of his way, said, "The tariff of power generated from the fossil fuel like coal and petroleum products is bound to go up with the steady depletion of the reserve, which might last another five decades. So, rooftop solar power plant is no more a fancy of a few eccentrics." The current director of CGCRI, Kamal Dasgupta, is equally glad by the outcome of the plant.

The authorities are constantly aiming to create the amount of power required by the city. The total estimated power produced by the plant in Kolkata was considered to be around 45,000 KWh in a year, but actual total generation was 52,269 KWh in past one year. Almost 50,000 units from the total solar power generation were utilized in-campus and additional 2,165 units were sold to the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) at the prevailing rate of the month. The sale and purchase of the power is accorded within the parameters of power purchase agreement, entered into between CSIR-CGCRI & CESC for 25 years.

Development is essential, but the thing that really matters the most is the positive environmental impact that is related to the performance of the plant. Kolkata plant's contribution to greenhouse gas emission reduction — CO2 emission avoided at Thermal Power Plant's Generation — is around 86 M.T., which is really impressive.

The water saved at Thermal Power Plant is around 575 Kilolitres. "This is a huge environmental benefit that a solar power plant can engineer," said Susapta Ghosh, superintendent engineer and Sujoy Roy, an electrical engineer, who also toiled a lot for plant's fantastic performance.

The main concern over solar power is the initial investment of installing the panels. Yet the cost savings on electrical bills and the positive effect on the environment make it an increasingly attractive alternative for homes and businesses alike.

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