3 days ago
New 19.20 MW solar power plant to come up at Panjapur
In a bid to support upcoming infrastructure and generate green energy, the Tiruchi Corporation has planned to establish a 19.20 megawatt (MW) solar power plant in Panjapur near the Tiruchi-Madurai National Highway.
According to official sources, the plant will have eight solar power generation units having 2.4 MW capacity each. The plant would be developed at a cost of ₹115 crore under the Corporation's General Funds.
At present, the civic body is identifying land to install power panels. Officials said that around 50 acres of land would be needed for the project. The civic body plans to install rooftop panels at the integrated bus terminus, market complex, TIDEL park and other upcoming projects in Panjapur.
Electricity produced by the plant will be adequate to compensate for the major power consumption and infrastructure developments in the city. Once commissioned, the civic body can save a substantial amount from its annual electricity bill by feeding the electricity generated from the plant to the electricity board's grid, said a senior Corporation official.
Following the installation, a private agency would be appointed to operate and maintain the solar plant. The lifetime of solar panels is around 25 to 30 years.
Last year, a 9.6 MW solar power plant was installed on a 33-acre land in Panjapur at a cost of ₹39 crore, sanctioned under the Smart Cities Mission. Four solar power generation units, each having a capacity to generate 2.4 MW of electricity, were installed to save about ₹9 crore per year in the Corporation's electricity expense.
Earlier, rooftop solar panels were installed at over 160 Corporation-owned buildings, including schools, office buildings, health centres, anganwadis, toilet complexes and pumping stations, to reduce power consumption.
