Bhubaneswar: In a significant step toward climate action, the Government has initiated steps for supplementing the power supply to health service institutions through roof-top solar projects. This matter was discussed at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra here on Monday.
Emphasising green energy and reduction of carbon footprint, Mahapatra gave in-principle approval to the proposal and directed to make the system foolproof for ensuring quality power supply to the health service institutions.
Additional Chief Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Raj Kumar Sharma expected that generation of solar power through roof-top solar would reduce the energy bill of the hospitals and medical colleges. Principal Secretary (Energy), Nikunjabihari Dhal said that Odisha gets around 300 sunny days a year, and the average solar radiation was quite conducive for roof-top solar projects.
“It would be an on-grid solar system and would be managed through remote monitoring system with real-time energy data analytics. It would also help in tracking the energy load and consumption pattern in health institutions. It was decided to start the project in all Government medical colleges and district headquarter hospitals in the first phase. Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) would be the nodal agency for implementation and oversight of the project in health institutions,” a senior official said.
Additional Director OREDA Ashok Choudhury appraised, “1KW of solar power requires around 100 sq feet of rooftop, and yields around 4 units per day. As such, a rooftop of around 1000 sq feet would yield 40 units per day at a lesser cost than that of the current fossil-power tariff supplied through grid.”
