Corpn readies to generate 154 kW power daily

Coimbatore: The city corporation is all set to generate 154 kilowatts (kW) of power daily by installing floating solar panels in Ukkadam Periyakulam at a cost of Rs1.45 crore. The panels will be anchored to the lakebed and hence will not drift away.
Being implemented in partnership with the South Asia chapter of ICLEI - Local Govts for Sustainability, which would fund Rs72.5 lakh, under the Namakku Naame scheme, the project has commenced at Ukkadam Periyakulam.The city corporation would bear the remaining amount.
City corporation commissioner Sivaguru Prabakaran said they had chosen 50 cents on the water surface near the southern side of Ukkadam Periyakulam to install floating solar panels.
"We have installed 280 solar panels on the water. We could generate 154 kW of electricity daily using these panels. Early streamer emission air terminals will also be installed in the locality," he said.
According to corporation officials, 693 units of electricity could be generated daily with the help of the floating solar panels. "We have approached the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (Tangedco) officials to install a transformer near the lake bund. Electricity generated with the solar panels will be provided to Tangedco," said Saravanakumar, assistant engineer with the corporation.
The civic body has fixed CCTV cameras in the locality to prevent the theft of solar panels.
When asked if the project would affect aquatic life, Saravanakumar said, "Ukkadam Periyakulam sprawls across 330 acres. Solar panels are installed in just 50 cents of area. So, aquatic life wouldn't be affected."
Biologists, however, said detailed, long-term studies should be undertaken before accessing the impact of projects like these in waterbodies.
Dr Ritesh Kumar, director, Wetlands International South Asia, said, "It is important to thoroughly understand the impact of this project on the aquatic ecosystem. For example, the impact of shade, temperature change and others."