Raj Bhavan leads in promoting solar energy amid power crisis

At a time when Andhra Pradesh is passing through its worst-ever power crisis, Raj Bhavan, the the sprawling 21-acre Governor's estate, is showing the way in promoting solar energy.
It has adopted some of the best practices in utilising solar energy and water conservation. It has been one year since Raj Bhavan is being lit up with solar energy and the water pits dug up have increased the water table besides helping the growth of vegetation.
Solar energy is the main source of power in the Raj Bhavan and it is one of the government buildings in the state to adopt renewable energy programme by installing solar power packs, senior officials told reporters today.

The solar power packs now cater to 70 per cent of lighting load requirements in the building. The Raj Bhavan has installed solar power packs of a total capacity of 41.05 units (KWp) in the various blocks in March, 2012.
The solar system is functioning with full utility for the past one year. The programme was funded under Special Area Demonstration Project (SADP) scheme and the nodal agency is NEDCAP.
An amount of Rs 96 lakh was sanctioned in April, 2011 for the initiative.

The generating capacity of the solar system installed in the Raj Bhavan is 190 units per day, while the average units of consumption per day are nearly 150 units.

As per present power tariff in the state, the consumption comes under the slab of about Rs seven per unit under the conventional energy system.
The dynamics of solar energy shows that the monthly savings works out to be Rs 33,750 per month, which comes to a total annual saving of over Rs four lakhs per annum, officials said.
The load of 41.05 KWp is distributed in various blocks of the Raj Bhavan. The entire lighting load in the main house, administrative block, security block and other buildings is on solar system, they said.