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| BHEL | |||||||
| A
Pioneer in Harnessing Renewable Energy |
By A Special Correspondent | ||||||
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Facilitating Remote Area Development There is wide gap between the demand and
supply of power in India. In Addition, a higher dependence on fossil
fuels has resulted in considerable environmental and resource
degradation, besides increasing the risk of price fluctuation and
currency exposure. Taking account of these factors and recognizing
renewable energy (RE) sources as the best alternative to conventional
fuels, the Government of India set up the Ministry of Non-Conventional
Energy Sources (MNES). The task of MNES is to facilitate the growth of
grid and off-grid based power through specific programme in order to
provide clean power in India.
Renewable Power Capacity in India India’s total installed power generating
capacity has gone up from a mere 1,300 Megawatt (MW) at the time of
independence to over 115,000 MW today. But still, nearly 780 million
rural households are without electricity.
Today, a power generation capacity of 4,800 MW from renewables, which is about 4.4% of the total installed capacity, is operational in the country. The total potential of renewables for power generation is estimated to be 82,000 MW. The draft RE policy prepared by the MNES has set a goal of power generation of 10,000 MW through renewable modes by the year 2012. BHEL – a pioneer in harnessing Renewable Energy BHEL, the largest engineering and
manufacturing enterprise in India has played a stellar role in the
power development programme of the country. 65% of India’s total
installed utility generating capacity (thermal, hydro, nuclear and
gas-based) accounting for over 75,700 MW has been supplied and
commissioned by BHEL. This means, three houses out of four in the
country are lit by power generated by BHEL sets.
Solar Energy The Sun provides enough energy in one
minute to cater to global energy needs for one year. In one day, it
provides more energy than our current population would consume in 27
years. India receives 5000 trillion kWh/year of solar energy, far more
than the total energy consumption of the country.
BHEL decided very early to play an
active role in the harnessing of eco-friendly Non-Conventional Energy
Sources (NCES), which are abundantly available in the country. In line
with its Corporate Social Responsibility, BHEL commenced the
manufacture of solar photovoltaic cells and modules at its Bangalore
Plant, and subsequently set up stand-alone as well as grid-interactive
solar photovoltaic power plants for supply of electricity to far-flung
remote areas. Till the recent past, consistent power supply for ten or
more hours was a distant dream for people living in remote areas like
the Lakshadweep islands, the Sunderbans delta in West Bengal or the
Andaman and Nicobar islands. Power generation in these places was
primarily through diesel generator sets, a costly proposition for the
islanders, as these places are linked to the mainland only by ships,
flight services or mechanized / wooden sailing vessels.
The solar power plants commissioned by
BHEL in these islands have heralded a new era in the lives of the
islanders. By providing environment-friendly, uninterrupted power to
the Airport, Shipyard, Tourist Cottages, Residential Houses, Cottage
Industries, Government Offices, Community Lighting etc. these
eco-friendly power plants have reduced the dependence on oil and its
hazards.
Mousuni Island – India’s largest stand-alone solar power plant transforms the life of islanders The people of Mousuni Island in the
Sunderbans delta got their first ray of ‘light’ when BHEL commissioned
in February 2001, the first Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Power Plant of 55
kW in this island, which is located in South Parganas district of West
Bengal. Soon enough, a new era of prosperity was ushered in when BHEL
commissioned India’s largest off grid stand-alone SPV power plant of
105 kW capacity in Mousuni – the second such plant in the island in
June 2003.
This has changed the quality of life of
the 700 houses of Mousuni Island, paving the way for setting up of
village-based cottage industries, telecommunication and infrastructure,
besides providing thrust to tourism. The plant is also catering to the
drinking water needs of the villagers.
Devoid of any known sources of power,
Mousuni Island has been provided with local generation and mini
off-grid concept of village electrification through Solar Photovoltaic
based power systems by West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency
(WBREDA), Kolkata.
A novel method of selling electricity
has also been adopted at Mousuni Island by employing prepaid Energy
meters on trial basis. Energy is being sold to selected customers
through smart cards. Each consumer is provided with a smart card, which
gets uniquely identified with the energy meter, installed at his
premises. The system also provides an alarm before the credit runs out.
The installation of prepaid Energy meters shall help in regularizing
revenue collection trends. Based on the successful implementation of
these prepaid energy meters on trial basis, WBREDA has now planned to
install prepaid energy meters in large numbers in the upcoming projects.
Solar power plants have come as a boon
to the people in this remote and backward area, which was deprived of
conventional electricity. Today, the residents of this island are able
to continue their activities like community meets, cultural programmes
and coaching of their children even beyond sunset. People who led a
monotonous life of retiring to bed at dusk, can now lead an active life
after dark also, by choosing newer avenues for their livelihood,
engaging in community meetings besides catching up with the fast
changing world through the electronic media. This solar power plant
also powers a deep tube well for providing clean drinking water to the
islanders. BHEL has also been assigned the responsibility of operating
and maintaining this power plant for five years.
Following the successful commissioning of this project, WBREDA has reposed confidence and recently awarded another prestigious contract of BHEL for setting up five more stand-alone solar power plants. Expected to be commissioned in the next
financial year, BHEL will also operate and maintain these plants for 10
years.
Solar Power Plants commissioned by BHEL in the Lakshadweep Islands Lakshadweep is the only coral atoll of
India surrounded by the Arabian Sea. It has a lagoon area of 4200 sq.
km, territorial water of 20,000 sq. km. And it accounts for 4,00,000
sq. km. of total Exclusive Economic Zone of the country. The literal
meaning of Lakshadweep is one-lakh islands. However, actually there are
36 islands with a total area of 32 sq. km. Out of the 36 islands, only
11 are inhabited. The total population of the islands is about 70,000
people. The islands lie about 220 to 440 km. from the coastal city of
Kochi in Kerala.
The geographic location, ecological
consideration and energy demand pattern of the Union Territory of
Lakshadweep make solar photovoltaics one of the most appropriate
solutions to meet the energy demand of this area.
The islands of Lakshadweep receive
abundant sunlight throughout the year except for a couple of months
during monsoon. This provides an ideal opportunity for the use of solar
power in the islands.
With a view to make use of the abundant
sunlight for electricity generation and also to protect the ecology and
environment of the coral islands, which were threatened by pollution
caused by diesel power plants, the Electricity Department of
Lakshadweep approached BHEL for deploying solar photovoltaic systems in
the islands. Initially the smallest island of Bitra was surveyed and a
5 kW SPV power plant was set up there in 1988. Based on its successful
operation, a 10 kW SPV power plant was installed in 1991 at Bangaram
Island and 50 kW SPV plant in Kadmat Island. Apart from these plants,
solar PV street lighting systems were installed by BHEL besides
distribution of solar lanterns to the islanders.
The successful operation of these SPV
power plants emboldened the Electricity Department to embark on a major
programme of providing electricity through solar power plants to the
various islands.
Surveys were jointly conducted with BHEL
in all the islands and the single largest order for 7 Grid-Interactive
Solar Photovoltaic power plants of 100 kW each to be installed at
Agatti, Andrott, Kavaratti, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Amini and Chetlat islands
in Lakshadweep, was placed on BHEL with funding from Lakshadweep
Administration and Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources.
With the completion of this project by
BHEL this year, the total generating capacity from SPV Power Plants in
Lakshadweep will touch 1050 kilowatt and this will become the largest
ever Solar Photovoltaic island electrification project in the Asia
Pacific Region. Apart from annual saving in fuel costs, estimated at
around Rs. One crore, the grid-interactive solar power plants will pave
the way for safeguarding the fragile ecology of the coral islands.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands BHEL took the initiative and set up
photovoltaic-based street lighting systems on a large-scale, way back
in 1986. Subsequently, a 50 Kilowatt Grid Interactive Solar Power Plant
was commissioned by BHEL at Niel Island and another plant of 50 kW
capacity has been commissioned at Havelock Island.
BHEL has so far supplied solar modules
and system for generating over 15 Megawatt of power, covering various
applications like Home Lighting Systems, Stand-alone Street Lighting
Systems, Grid-Interactive, Hybrid and Stand-alone Power Plants, Rural
Automatic Telephonic Exchanges, Refrigeration Systems, Unmanned
Offshore Oil Platforms, Meteorological Data Collection Platforms,
Direct Reception Television Sets, Battery Charging, Water Pumping
Systems, Railways, Microwave Repeater Stations etc.
“Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
is an icon of an incredible success story, from a humble beginning to
becoming the largest engineering enterprise of its kind in the country
and one of the foremost companies in the international power arena.
BHEL is a multi product company offering over 180 highly sophisticated
engineering products under one umbrella.
BHEL is a pioneer and market leader in
renewable energy devices and products including SPV power systems. The
Electronics Division at Bangalore manufactures a range of electronic
equipment for all types of power control systems including renewable
energy applications such as Thyristor Converters with Digital
Regulation System, PWM Inverters, Induction Motor Drives, Load
Commutated Inverters, DC High Current Rectifiers, Distributed Control
Systems and Instrumentation.
Accredited with ISO 9001:2000 and ISO
14001 certification, BHEL enjoys international recognition as
responsible corporate citizen creating value for users of its products
and services. SESI is proud to bestow the PV SEC Award for Applications
for the year 2004 on Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (EC Division)”.
(Source: BHEL, New Delhi)  |
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| RNI No.
WBENG/2008/27737 |
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Editor:
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