Electrification of government schools through solar energy in the offing

WBREDA, West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation and West Bengal Pollution Control Board have collaborated for the installation of rooftop, grid-tied solar PV power systems at government and government-aided schools across the state, with 100 per cent funding from the state budget.

As part of the project, ABB India, a leading power and automation technology company, has been 

roped in to play a key role in West Bengal government’s initiative for state-wide solar electrification of schools.

The power and automation major supplies string inverters of various capacities which support the installation of rooftop solar PV systems with Kolkata-based Sunshine Power Products Pvt. Ltd across government schools in the state.

String inverters have already been supplied and installed at 40 schools as part of this project in Midnapore, Bankura, Kolkata and a few other districts. ABB India had also been awarded a contract to supply inverters for an additional 150 schools recently.

Sanjeev Sharma, CEO and Managing Director, ABB India said: “About 50 per cent of India’s solar energy generated passes through ABB equipment.”

“ABB welcomes the government initiative to use clean energy to light up educational institutions.”

“We are proud to help create a brighter future for our students with Sunshine Power Products to bring our inverter technologies to power education.”

“The plug and play installation of these string inverters, combined with PV systems, render convenience and high system efficiency, making renewable energy sustainable for usage at schools,” Sharma said.

“The reputation of ABB and its products has led to our partnership for the supply of grid-connected solar inverters. The biggest advantage of ABB string inverters is the wide range and higher efficiency,” said Uttam Mukherjee, Managing Director, Sunshine Power Products. He added: “The 10 kW inverters will be installed at higher secondary schools and colleges owing to higher electrical load and the 5 kW version will power the energy requirement of junior secondary schools.”