ONGC’s Rajamahendravaram asset embraces solar energy

The ONGC’s Rajahmundry asset installed a 1 mega watt solar power plant at a cost of Rs. 7 crore in October last. The plant has generated 8 lakh units of power so far and is all set to go commercial in the next couple of weeks. .

“There should not be a shadow zone in the area where the panel boards are fixed. We are ready to fix bio-direction boards and also to give approval for synchronisation,” said superintending engineer, APEPDCL.

The ground work for net metering and connecting the plant with the AP grid are almost over and inspection by the statutory authorities and insurance assessments had to be undertaken, said the officials concerned.

The plant was installed by BHEL over 4.5 acres on the ONGC campus to cater to the in-house electricity requirements and wheel out the surplus in a net metering arrangement. The current annual consumption of power at the ONGC Rajamahendravaram base complex is 2.5 million units.

The ONGC has so far saved Rs. 56 lakhs. In 2015 April, the consumption in the base complex which houses several offices, residential quarters besides a KV school, was 2.17 lakh units. This year, the demand for the energy has increased by 20%. But the company drew only 1.78 lakh units while the remaining was supplemented by the solar power.