AZEECON members get training on solar power @ Heritage

TOI NIE 27th June 2012

 Members from Asian Countries undergo training in solar power

Source:http://www.bengalnewz.com/environment/green_living/051716267.html

Kolkata, 17 May: 18 members from Asian Zone Emergency & Environment Cooperation Network (AZEECON-a joint initiative by RDRS Bangladesh, LWD Cambodia, LWS India trust, LWF Nepal, CDRM & CDS Indonesia & LWF Myanmar) visited the 100 Kilowatt solar PV panels at Heritage Institute of Technology, Kolkata, today as a part of their 2 – days training & awareness programme on the utilization of Solar Energy as a great source of renewable energy for variety of applications.

The members were from different countries across Asia like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, India and Cambodia. The training programme was also supported by Vikram Solar Private Limited and West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA).

“Solar Power is the future and by 2020, it will be at par with thermal power in terms of cost and various other utilities,” said H.K.Chaudhary, Chairman, Vikram Solar Pvt. Limited and Chairman, Kalyan Bharti Trust in the programme.

As a part of this great solar power movement, Heritage in association with WBREDA had installed 100 KW Solar Power PV panels in the roof-top where the material supply and technical-know how had been provided by Vikram Solar Pvt. Ltd.

Various questions were asked by the members who participated in the programme like the applicability of solar power in small homes as well as in villages, the cost of installation and the feasibility behind such project. “1 watt generation from a single solar PV panel costs Rs. 200 approximately,” said Prabir Paul, Sr. Service Engineer of Vikram.

Moreover Electrical Engineer of Heritage, Prabin Chand said that the initial cost of installation of Solar PV panel is high but the subsequent recurring cost is low. “It is a one time investment and thereafter every two years one has to change the batteries. For flats, it is not at all feasible as it is a roof-top solution but for large as well as small homes, it is becoming a good choice for long-term basis. Nowadays coal is becoming very costly and in future it will surpass expectations which will make thermal power and solar power at par in terms of cost. Nuclear power, solar power, wind power and hydal power will be the only options left for the future after the continuous erosion of thermal power,” said Chand.

Vikram Solar had installed solar power projects in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and also even in Germany. A member in the training programme from Nepal questioned Chaudhary about the maintenance of such panels. “In Nepal, we have installed such panels but after few months we are receiving complaints in terms of maintenance and battery back-up,” said Prabesh Paudyal from Nepal. “I admit that such model requires dealers’ involvement for distributing the products as well as giving a maintenance support in the local areas to enter the retail market and we from Vikram Solar are ready to educate people on the solar-energy projects so that they are motivated to take our dealership where we will provide all support through every means so that our products can reach every where in Asia, “said Chaudhary.

Even nowadays in villages in India, solar lanterns and solar cookers are slowly introduced and even in cities solar street lights are becoming a great support for energy conservation. Such products were also discussed in the programme.

“AZEECON was formed to provide regional cooperation for its member countries on environmental issues where such innovative awareness and training programmes benefit our members so that they can implement the same in their own countries for the benefit of the society creating an healthy environment affordable by people in rural and urban areas,” said Polly Monda, member of LWSI India.