Govt takes up projects to develop solar power in the state

In a unique move to use non-conventional energy West Bengal government has taken up a volley of projects to establish solar power at different installations.  

In a major development in the solar power sector the state government has taken up canal bank Solar PV project of 10 Megawatt which will come up by the end of May this year. The project is being constructed by the state owned West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) at Haptiagachh in Uttar Dinajpur at the cost of Rs 65.88 crore. A senior official of the WBSEDCL said that the state is pioneer in setting up canal bank Solar PV project in the country. Three more solar PV projects having a capacity of 10 MW each will come up at Santaldih and Chhara in Purulia, Mejia in Bankura. Tendering processes for setting up the projects are under process. WBSEDCL has also taken up an elaborate scheme to set up 500 MW ultra mega Solar Parks in the districts of East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Bankura. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) is underway, a senior official of the department said. A number of PV solar plants have been implemented in hundreds of schools in various districts. Solar panels will be set up on the roof top which will generate power. The work will be done in three phases. Energy that will be produced through the solar panel will also be used in the pumped storage hydro electric projects at Ajodhya hills. To raise awareness about the importance of solar energy the WBSEDCL in co-ordination with West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) is going to set up a 120 feet tall solar dome. The dome will be a land mark truncated Geodesic Dome. It will be  integrated with grid connected solar PV power plant. The unique structure is the first of its kind and will come up at Eco Park in Rajarhat. Tendering process has been completed for the setting up of the solar dome. The dome will not only raise awareness but will also act as a museum displaying various usages of the unconventional energy. The entire dome will be covered by solar panels which in turn will produce electricity to run the project and will also provide power to the nearby areas of Rajarhat. WBSEDCL has been implementing the project in co-ordination with the HIDCO. According to sources, the project will cost around Rs 30 crore and is likely to be completed by the end of this year. A senior official of the WBSEDCL said that the solar dome project is a part of the state government’s ambitious target to generate at least 100 MWs of power from roof top solar units over the next two to three years. To make solar power more popular among urban people in West Bengal, the state government had asked the highrise buildings to install solar panels on the roof tops.