First grid-tie solar power plant in Kerala
Capacity: 25 kW
Location: Rooftop of upper tower of KSEB HQ at Vydyuthi Bhavanam, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram
Project cost and funding: Rs.83,29,400 (MNES Rs.50 lakh; ANERT Rs.26.64 lakh; BHEL Rs.6.66 lakh).
Commissioned: August 2000.
The proposal for the first grid-tie solar power plant in Kerala was initiated in Nov-Dec 1995 under the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES, Govt of India) ‘scheme to establish and demonstrate the potential of Solar Photovoltaics to supplement and augment grid power’ (no. 32/384/95-PV/SPG dated 8.11.1995). The programme envisaged setting up of grid connected solar PV power plants for demonstrating the use of such power plants for reducing transmission and distribution (T&D) losses and load shaving as part of demand side management (DSM).
The estimate for a 100 kW system was Rs.3 crore. MNES proposed to support up to two-thirds of the project cost, subject to a maximum of Rs.2 crore/100 kW, with the balance cost met by the implementing agency/beneficiary. Even with the high cost it was expected that with technology demonstration and opportunity to study its operation, performance and safety aspects, it would be widely adopted realising its benefits.
In Jan-1996, in reply to our initial proposal, MNES requested ANERT to prepare and submit a Detailed Project Report (DPR) through a professional consultant (which expense will also be reimbursed by MNES), and forward it to MNES through the State Electricity Board.
BHEL Bangalore was entrusted the preparation of DPR. After initial discussion with the SEB, it was decided to install a 25 kW system on the rooftop of KSEB HQ (Vydyuthi Bhavanm, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram) which would enable much closer study of its operation and safety aspects of grid connected operation, including anti-islanding.
The DPR was submitted by BHEL in January 1998. A presentation of the DPR was made by ANERT, BHEL and KSEB officials before the committee of MNES on 23.1.1998. The committee was chaired by Dr Ajit Gupta (Adviser) and attended by other MNES officials. (BHEL had prepared DPR for Andhra Pradesh and Lakshadeep as well. The fourth state that had submitted the DPR was Orissa; report prepared by Tata-BP Solar.) MNES sanctioned the project to ANERT with some minor modifications.
BHEL and CEL were approached for the project implementation.
BHEL project proposal was for Rs.83,29,400 with Rs.6,65,880 (20% of ANERT share for the project) to be met by BHEL from their own funds, making it a joint project! One year free AMC after 1 year warranty period was also offered by BHEL.
CEL had made an offer of Rs.89,50,000 with indigenous inverter and Rs.98,50,000 with imported inverter.
Orders were issued to BHEL in September 1998 for the installation and commissioning of the solar power plant. The project funding was: Rs.50 lakh from MNES, Rs.26.64 lakh
from ANERT, Rs.6.66 lakh from BHEL.
An MOU was signed with KSEB in October 1999.
Installation was completed by March 2000, and the commissioning was done in August 2000 after approvals from Electrical Inspectorate and KSEB.