Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Nov 30:

A 500 KWp Rooftop Solar PV Project, claimed to be the largest in Odisha, was inaugurated by Upendra Tripathy, Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) here on Saturday.

kiss solar power project

It is the first of its kind among educational institutions in the country and the largest in Odisha. KISS already has many ultra modern facilities, including Wi-Fi system, CCTV cameras, and has adopted many environment friendly projects, including bio gas plant, drinking water treatment plant, sewerage treatment plant, solar water heating system, green environment appreciation point etc.

The project was installed under the grid-connected rooftop solar program of Solar Energy Corporation of India, a Government of India Enterprise under the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, which offers 30 % subsidy on the project cost.

The project, built at a cost of about Rs 4 crore, will generate more than 7 lakh units of electricity resulting in CO2 emission reduction of 650 tonnes every year.

While the institute contributed 20 % of the project cost, Power Finance Corporation (PFC) contributed 50 % under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding and 30% came as subsidy through Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)  from Central Finance Assistance of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, KISS authorities said.

The project was completed in a short span of 7 to 8 months and will supply solar power to the institute during day time for the next 25 years. This will help them reduce their dependence on grid power supply, generate green and clean power and mitigate GHG emissions.

During the inauguration, Tripathy, Secretary, MNRE addressed thousands of tribal students of the Institute in presence of Rajendra Nimje, MD, SECI; Rakesh Kumar, Director, SECI; R.S. Dhillon, GM (projects); Power Finance Corporation of India; B.K. Panda, Regional Director, MNRE; Atulya Kumar Mohanty, AGM, SECI and other senior officials of central and state government agencies.

Extolling the environmental benefits of solar energy, Tripathy said the country is aiming at developing 100000 MW of solar power by the year 2020, which will generate huge employment opportunities.  He assured Central Finance Assistance to various schools and colleges in the state towards setting up of more such grid-connected rooftop projects.  He also informed that Central Government has planned to set up 25 solar parks across the country aggregating 20000 MW, including the 1000 MW solar park proposed for Odisha.

He hoped that Odisha will avail this opportunity and submit proposals to SECI / MNRE for setting up solar power projects with speed and alacrity. Odisha has the potential to become a major player in the field of solar energy and can immensely contribute towards achieving the targets of national solar mission.