Research & Development

1. Jharkhand new Assembly building on Sept 12, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the new building of Jharkhand Assembly on September 12, 2019.
The new Jharkhand Assembly premises will be first in the country which will be entirely paperless. For energy efficiency, 300 KVA two solar power systems have been installed through which power will be supplied to new building. The new Assembly building will meet 40 per cent of its power requirement through renewable energy. It spreads on about 39 acres at Kute in HEC area,Ranchi ,Jharkhand.

2. Jharkhand 2 MW Solar Canal

The Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (JREDA) has reissued its tender for 2 MW of grid-connected canal-top solar power projects at Sikidiri Canal in Ranchi. “The tender received a very low response due to which it has been reissued,” said an official from JREDA.
The general scope of work for the 2 MW canal-top solar PV power project involves the design, engineering, procurement, supply, and construction (EPC) of the grid-connected canal-top solar project, along with the testing, commissioning, and evacuation of a 33 kV solar power substation. The bidder should be aware that the capacity utilization factor (CUF) should be considered with an AC capacity of 2 MW, and the power should be evacuated at 33 kV voltage level. A metering point should also be included at the solar power substation.
The work also involves the development of a 33 kV switchyard capacity for a minimum of 2 MW of solar evacuation at the generation substation. However, the transmission line from solar project switchyard to the pooling substation will be developed by the Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL).
The successful bidder will also be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the project for ten years.
The estimated cost of the project is 150.7 million, and the work needs to be completed within six months. The date for the technical bid is scheduled for September 13, 2019.
Interested bidders need to pay a sum of 3.14 million as the earnest money deposit (EMD).
Interested bidders should have prior experience in the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of solar photovoltaic-based grid-connected power projects of a cumulative installed capacity of 10 MW or above in or outside India.
The bidders should be able to submit the list of projects commissioned along with their work order, the commissioning certificates, and the certificate stating the project’s operation timeline.
According to the JREDA, the financial criteria for the bidders state that their average annual turnover for the last three financial years should be at least 50 million.
The canal bank and canal top solar project programs were launched in the financial year 2014-15. Under this program, solar projects have been commissioned in different states including Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
In a bid to promote these installations, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is also providing a subsidy of 30 million/MW of installed capacity for canal bank projects and a subsidy of 1.5 million /MW of installed capacity for canal top projects.

3. Two floating Solar Plants in Ranchi, Jharkhand

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECIL) will set up two floating solar plants on Dhurwa (Hatia) and Getalsud dams here which will together generate 150mw of power. Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) managing director Rahul Purwar on Wednesday said the project would be entirely funded by SECIL. “JBVNL will purchase the power from SECIL at a cost of Rs 3.10 per unit. While the solar plant on Getalsud dam will produce 100mw, the Dhurwa dam will generate 50mw,” said Purwar.
Purwar said SECIL had recently floated the technical bid to select the firm that would execute the project. The entire project will take six to eight months to complete.
The power generated at Getalsud dam will be routed through Sikidari grid whereas Dhurwa plant will be connected with the Hatia grid. Sources in the JBVNL said the power generated from both the dams will be used in Ranchi.
“The state government has a policy to promote renewal energy. Thousands of solar panels, which will float on water, will not cause pollution or damage the aquatic ecosystem. Floating solar panels have become very popular and effective. A study suggests that water beneath keeps the panels cool and increases productivity. Floating solar panels have been introduced in a number of southern states,” he said.
One of the biggest advantages of floating solar panels is that the installations do not require valuable land space. Many of these installations can take up unused space on water bodies, such as dams, wastewater treatment ponds, or drinking water reservoirs.
This allows landowners to make use of an area that wouldn’t otherwise be used, rather than installing on sunny land that could potentially serve another purpose down the line. Additionally, installing solar panels out on open water reduces the need for tree removal and forest clearing, a practice used in the case of some larger solar panel installations.
Floating solar makes sense in countries with high land costs and poor availability. The global floating solar market is driven by Asian countries, with China and Japan being home to bulk of such plants.