Following successful completion of grid connected rooftop solar power plants in as many as three district courts in-Khunti, Sahibganj and Garhwa-besides, several other Government premises so far, the renewable energy is all set to source electricity to Simdega district court from this Sunday.
Brainchild of Acting Chief Justice DN Patel, the 100 kilowatt solar power plant at the court premises with net-metering facility to facilitate exchange of power with the main grid, the scheme has been implemented by Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (JREDA) as nodal agency of the State Government.
“The plant is going to be inaugurated on September 17. The project cost is Rs 1.43 crore and have two separate plants of 60 kilowatt and 40 kilowatt capacities. The technology is so if the power generated from power plant is not sufficient to feed the loads, then the balance power shall be fed by battery bank. Also, if the battery bank is not sufficiently charged balance energy shall be drawn from the grid. And if there would be extra power with the bank then can be sent back to the main grid,” said SR Singh, Rooftop Engineer with JREDA on Thursday.
Justice SA Bobdey of the Supreme Court is coming to inaugurate the plant as the apex court has in recent times focused on harnessing more green energy to make its lower courts function.
The Acting Chief Justice said that he has asked JREDA to cover at least a dozen more district courts in the coming days.
Khunti was the first such court of the country and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2, 2015. This year itself the other two districts courts were illuminated through solar power. The official informed that four more such courts—Ramgarh, Koderma, Deoghar and Chatra—are in line to be covered with solar power in one year time.
“The endeavour is a part of our larger goal under which we have vowed to install solar plants at prominent Government establishments such as Raj Bhawan, CM Secretariat, RIMS, RINPAS, DC offices, Sadar hospitals etc. lots of buildings have been functioning with such power plants,” added JREDA Project Director Arvind Kumar.
As per the contract, the company installing power plants has to maintain the system for five years duration which makes it virtually maintenance-free for the agencies. Work order for Simdega court was given to M/s Abhishek Solar Industries Pvt. ltd., Ranchi on January 15, 2016 which is expected to generate approximately 1,20,000 units of electricity in one year.
“The batteries installed there would require six hours to be charged completely. Once charged fully, the bank can give power backup up to four hours with at full load that would meet entire power need of the court. Plant has Net Metering facility and expected life is 25 years,” said the official.
Justice Patel said that the Simdega district court faces frequent power cuts a number of times in a day. “Every time when power fails, all the work of Court become affected. People had to wait for DG operation. Also, diesel consumption was too high, adding to air pollution,” he added.
“Now, these problems will be over once the solar plant becomes operational and the court would function for longer hours. I have been informed that the judicial officers are working till seven in the evening,” he pointed out.