PANAJI: One of Goa’s largest solar power generation systems became operational on Saturday at the Goa Institute of Management (GIM) campus in Sakhali, where the institute has installed the 675kW solar power plant.
The solar panels have been installed on the roof-tops of the academic buildings. GIM alone will be now helping the state meet 14% of its target of solar power generation to be attained by 2022, set based on the Paris accord.
“It is one of the largest solar power generation systems in Goa today. The institute should now soon be off the grid of the electricity department. Within the next three years, this dream can be a reality I think. The panels used by GIM are the best available in the market today,” power minister Nilesh Cabral said.
The plant was set up taking advantage of the state government’s scheme that facilitates the storage of surplus solar energy generated by prosumers in the grid.
The facility has been installed on Opex basis by JLTM Energy India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Technique Solaire of France. The contract requires GIM to purchase all the power generated by the power supplier and the net metering permits the consumer to store the excess power not utilised in the grid for use subsequently, except during peak hours.
All the capital investment and also the operation and maintenance is ensured by the Opex operator, who guarantees a minimum generation, failing which he pays a penalty.
“GIM has always been conscious about the impact of its decisions on the ecosystem around it and has continuously strived to reduce its carbon footprints.
The solar project is one such initiative and is aligned to our efforts in adopting sustainable practices on campus. We are possibly the only educational institute in the country to have an energy management system where we track the live power per capita consumption across the campus.
The consumption pattern is tracked and analysed on a regular basis via a specially designed software,” GIM director Ajit Parulekar said.
The solar cells installed are of the monocrystalline variety that ensures a better solar energy conversion and utilise lesser roof area. The solar panels are of 500 Wp capacity and manufactured by Trina Solar of China. Parulekar said that the entire solar plant was set up in a record time of three months.
PFX D’Lima, member of the board at GIM and former director, said that the central government decided to charge all private educational institutions the commercial tariff which is higher than even the industrial tariff. The solar plant is now set to reduce the costs for the institute.
Former chief minister Pratapsingh Rane said that the solar plant at GIM will also inspire its students and to promote renewable sources of energy when they become future managers.