Pilot project to use DG sets for solar installations

A pilot project has been taken up to use diesel generator to smoothen out erratic electricity supply from solar power installations in West Bengal.
"We have asked our power distribution companies to map diesel generator sets that are installed in the Kolkata. To begin with it will be a pilot project the success of which would depend on the mass implementation of the project,"West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission chairman R N Sen said.
"These diesel generators would be connected to the control room of the power distribution company which would be remotely turned when there is a shortfall of power in the grid," he said.

He was talking to reporters at the side-lines of a conference organised by the Independent Power Producers Associations.
"With the centre taking up large solar power capacity addition projects the share of solar power in the total power generation basket will rise. However, as solar power is erratic and it cannot be stored, we are taking the initiative to find out if backing up solar power with DG sets can be used as an viable alternative," said Sen.
Power generated from solar installations are erratic and generates only during the daytime. Even too it can dwindle if the sky turns cloudy and altoghther these solar installations may not generate at all during monsoons.

Sudden fluctuation of power on the gird increases the possibility of a grid collapse.