Health Institutions To Be Supplemented By Roof-Top Solar Power

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

This was discussed in a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra which was attended by Principal Secretary, Energy, Nikunjabihari Dhal.

Emphasizing on green energy and reduction of carbon footprint, Mahapatra gave in principle approval to the proposal. Mahapatra also directed to make the system fool-proof 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.

Dhal said Odisha receives 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.

The Chief Secretary 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 informed the meeting that one KW 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.

Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Raj Kumar Sharma, Principal Secretary, Nikunjabihari Dhal along with senior officers from departments concerned participated in the deliberations.