Bhubaneswar: With a move to promote green energy and save the environment, the State Energy Department has taken a novel initiative to set up solar PV projects at 53 Government run medicals and colleges across the State under RESCO model.
Principal Secretary Energy, Vishal Kumar Dev has been taking up Green Energy Initiatives across the State.
Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) has planned to install 6.462 MW of rooftop solar power projects on the Government buildings under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) Model with a net metering or virtual net metering facility.
This move is one of the first in the country to offer the virtual net metering option with a rooftop solar project, sources said.
The OREDA has recently invited a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the selection of Solar Power Generators (SPG) for the development of Solar PV Projects for the government buildings under RESCO model.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has a target of achieving 40 GW of rooftop solar PV installed capacity. So, Odisha has planned to adopt the RESCO model for solar PV project installation across Government buildings and institutions in Odisha, officials said.
Under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary, Odisha, it was decided to install solar rooftop projects for Government Institutions in the RESCO model in the first phase of RESCO programs in Odisha, they said.
According to official sources, 12 district headquarters hospitals (DHHs) and the Government Medical College at Puri under Tata Power Central Odisha Distribution Ltd (TPCODL) will get the solar project of total capacity 1857 kW.
Similarly, solar power of total capacity of 1480 kW will be installed at FM Autonomous College (New commerce building), FM Medical College and eight DHHs under Tata Power North Odisha Distribution Ltd (TPNODL)
In Tata Power South Odisha Distribution Ltd (TPSODL), 979 kW solar power projects will be installed at six healthcare facilities by the OREDA.
Moreover, 24 solar power projects of total capacity of 2147 kW will be installed under the Tata Power Western Odisha Distribution Ltd (TPWODL) jurisdiction.
The objectives of implementing this project are to support the institutions, departments to either develop the Project or to reduce their expenses towards electricity.
OREDA shall be the nodal agency responsible for coordinating between various stakeholders for facilitation. The Agency has created a Data Room which contains site wise details and past electricity bills for such sites.
It has also obtained consent of the Health & family Welfare Department to make payment to the power consumption bills centrally for DHHs & Government Medical colleges.