Inauguration of UP’s first 2MWp grid connected solar power plant
Technical Associates Ltd (TAL), a Lucknow based company has installed a 2 MWp solar photovoltaic plant in District Barabanki, UP under the Rooftop PV and Small Solar generation Program (RPSSGP) of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. The plant is the first megawatt scale, grid connected PV facility power project to be commissioned in the state of Uttar Pradesh and provides power to the state grid, under PPA with Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. (MVVNL). Installed over an area of nearly 17 acres, the plant consists of 24290 solar PV modules that work together harmoniously to produce (at peak output) 2 MW of clean reliable power. The power is fed at 11 KV into the distribution grid operated by MVVNL. This plant would provide unlimited, clean and green energy to UPPCL and also help in meeting Renewable Purchase Obligations of Uttar Pradesh.
The solar PV technology selected by TAL is a thin fim technology based on a Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) junction. Thin film CdTe is the current state of the art in solar PV because of its low energy payback, responsible recycling and strong research backup. The solar PV modules have been procured from First Solar, the world’s largest manufacturer of high efficiency CdTe PV modules. During the design and construction of the plant, TAL has taken a number of measures for environmental conservation such as preservation of top soil, rainwater harvesting, use of local materials and services. Reliability of the power supply has further been ensure though long term warranty agreements with equipment suppliers as well as installation of a SCADA control system in the plant. The plant’s critical operating parameters, events and alerts can be monitored remotely as well as over SMS alerts.
Although the state of Uttar Pradesh enjoys abundant sunshine and the solar irradiation in certain areas of the state is at par with states that have large scale solar power installations, UP has not yet been able to tap this resource. It is expected that the plant installed by TAL in Barabanki will be a showcase for potential investors, who may have apprehensions regarding the viability of sch projects in UP. Further, it is expected that the plant will contribute to the improvement of quality and availability of power in the area, which in turn will have a positive impact on the social and economic development of the neighboring villages as well as local industry.
TAL is amongst the oldest manufacturers of distribution and power transformers in the country and is presently amongst the few companies in the country with the technological capability to manufacture Extra High Voltage transformers up to 200 MVA, 220 KV voltage class.
सुरेन्द्र अग्निहोत्री
agnihotri1966@gmail.com
sa@upnewslive.com