Solar street lights and solar geysers are all set to welcome the freshers at the University of Hyderabad this year. The institute has decided to replace electric geysers with solar geysers and electric street lights in the campus with solar street lights.

The university already procured more than 15 solar geysers, amounting to Rs 45 lakhs from BHEL. It will spend another Rs 48 lakh this year and is planning to purchase another 30 solar geysers.

Last year, the University saved elec- tricity worth almost Rs 5 lakh because of their ‘go green’ attempt. “We will implement the usage of solar energy in a phased manner in the entire University,” promises the vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Seyed E. Hasnain. Not only do the solar geysers save electricity, they are durable. The authorities say that these geysers have a durability of more than 20 years.

The University is also set to replace at least 200 electric street lights with solar street lights starting this year. It is also setting up a solar powerhouse in the campus, at an expense of Rs 2. 5 crore. Can we do the same at ALWAL GHMC ? 

Authorities of the University believe that they can cut down their electric bills by more than 35 per cent by taking this initiative.

“Institutions like TTD, Indian Army have been using solar energy for cooking for quite sometime now. We also hope to cut down our electricity expenses in the coming months,” says Lt.

Col. M N Rao, the engineer of the University.

SOLAR POWER

Nedcap shows the way out of power crisis

Koride Mahesh | TNN

Hyderabad: You can beat power cuts by tapping solar energy with an investment of just Rs 9,000. Moreover, it will completely eliminate your monthly power bill.
Keeping in view growing power cuts, the Non-Conventional Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (Nedcap) will take up promotion of solar energy products by launching awareness campaigns from the end of July.
For a two-bulb (compact fluroscent lights) solar home lighting system, the unit cost is 13,905. But the Centre gives a subsidy of Rs 4,800 and the final cost comes to Rs 9,105.

There are several solar energy products which are suitable for individual houses and apartments as well. “Though the unit cost of a solar water heating system, useful for both apartments and individual houses, is slightly higher, citizens can get rid of their monthly power bills. Above all, they do not have any maintenance problems like other electrical equipment,’’ Nedcap vicechairman and managing director M P Reddy said.

Nedcap, a state government undertaking, promotes non-conventional energy resources, especially solar energy, in the state.
There are other versions of the home lighting system. The Model-III is designed to support one light, one direct current fan, 20 W 37 W module, 12 V 40 AH battery and 9w CFL bulb. For this higher version, the unit cost is Rs 15,709. The Model IV can support two lights and one fan and can be used with 74 W module, 12 V 75 AH battery. The cost of the unit is Rs 23,730 and for these models the government gives Rs 4,800 subsidy.

Apart from promoting homelighting systems, Nedcap exhorts public sector undertakings and other institutions to switch over to solar energy for street lights, traffic lights and other needs.

Nedcap officials admit poor response from people due to prohibitive cost. During 2007-08, Nedcap sold only 98 home lighting systems and 163 street lighting units. The corporation is taking up promotion campaign once in a year due to budgetary constraints. Even government departments are not coming forward to tap solar energy, the official said.

Of 163 solar street lights sold last year, National Police Academy purchased 125 units. The cost of each solar street light is Rs 23,508. And, Rs 9,600 subsidy is given on per piece to government departments and non-profitable organisations.

Nedcap had written to 50 public sector undertakings, government hospitals and other institutions a couple of months urging them to use solar street lights on their premises. It had also sent a list of energy auditors for estimating the requirement. Of 50, eight organisations replied evincing interest in solar lights. “We will intensify our campaign by conducting meetings, distributing pamphlets, writing letters to organisations and organising competitions throughout the state for one month,’’ M P Reddy said.