Health Institutions in Odisha to Be Supplemented by Roof-top Solar Power

Bhubaneswar: In another significant step towards climate action, the Odisha Government has initiated steps for supplementing power supply to health service institutions through roof-top solar projects.

It was discussed in a high level meeting held under Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra in Lok Seva Bhawan conference hall today.
Principal Secretary Energy Nikunjabihari Dhal outlined the proposal for discussion.

Emphasizing on green energy and reduction of carbon foot print, Chief Secretary gave in principle approval to the proposal. Mahapatra also directed to make the system foolproof for ensuring quality power supply to the health service institutions.

Additional Chief Secretary 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 Dhal said Odisha got around 300 sunny days a year, and the average solar radiation was quite conducive for roof-top solar projects.

Discussions in the meeting showed that 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. Chief Secretary Sri Mahapatra directed that Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) would be the nodal agency for implementation and oversight of the project in health institutions.

Additional Director OREDA Ashok Choudhury appraised, “1KW of solar power requires around 100 sq feet of roof top, and yields around 4 units per day”. As such, a roof top 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.