The availability of roof-top space in residential buildings would be the biggest challenge
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Chennai: It may not be an easy sail though for the state government’s ambitious move to make solar power generation mandatory for all high rise buildings. The availability of roof-top space in residential buildings would be the biggest challenge considering the terrace being used for recreation and other usages.
Mr. Ajit Kumar Chordia, president, Chennai chapter of confederation of real estate developers association (Credai), said the idea is welcome; however, the government has a tough job at hand to make it workable.
For example, if your apartment building is surrounded by taller buildings then the entire roof will be shadowed. In such case, roof-top solar doesn’t make sense. Also, the terrace is used for recreation, drying clothes and the space availability to set-up a solar power plant would be very limited. “I don’t know how the state government goes out implementing the policy. If it imposes it on high rise building indiscriminately, it will not taste success”, Chordia said.
As far as commercial establishment is concerned this shouldn’t be a problem as they have huge roof space, which is mostly shadow-free. In Chennai, many corporate offices are already mulling the idea of installing solar power units and some have already did it. “I am also planning to install 1 mega watt solar power plant at Olympiad IT Park in Guindy. I have already installed 40 kilo watt power plant at my Khivraj Motors in Perungudi.”
He said non-availability of net meters and power fluctuations can be a real irritant. “I have waited for one year to get the net meter for the Perungudi plant and installed a stabiliser to manage with the erratic power supply, which costs additional Rs 2 lakh.”
However, C.N. Raghavendran, who runs CRN Architects and Engineers, said it’s a brilliant move and expressed confidence that it will be as successful as rain water harvesting. “It’s the need of the hour. Most of the housing projects we are handling like ITC housing and Tata housing, solar power plants installation is a feature. People will get attracted, if the government can provide some subsidy. Also, because we have very few overcast days and there is no winter here, tapping solar energy is relatively easier.”
A solar expert said the solar power plants are being promoted aggressively in the other cities in the country too. A 2 kw rooftop plant covers an area of around 200 square feet. For a 5 kw plant, an area of 500 square feet is required.” A 1kw plant will generate at least 4 units of electricity per day. For a house, around 4 to 5 kw power —around 20 units — is required per day.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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