Colvale central jail, Cujira school complex may get solar power

Panaji: Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) is looking at powering the central jail at Colvale with solar energy. The agency has forwarded a proposal to the government expressing interest to set up rooftop solar panels. The large facility has a lot of scope for installation of solar panels and GEDA is looking at powering streetlights within the complex with solar power, as well as considering solar cooking systems for inmates. It is still ascertaining the extent to which the complex can be solar powered. The proposal was mooted by the inspector general of prisons. The integrated educational complex at Cujira is another venture that GEDA will be taking up, with the intention of providing solar energy. “This will be a big educational project where students will be involved. The installations will help them understand solar energy first hand, allowing them to take a keen interest in sources of renewable of energy,” an official said. However, the agency is waiting for all work on the complex and its buildings to be complete before it takes any steps forward.
GEDA will soon be conducting a survey to identify government buildings that are favourable for setting up rooftop solar panels and accordingly seek approval from the government to install them. The agency is considering taking up one taluka on a pilot project basis for the installation of solar panels on government buildings. Currently, the Raj Bhavan premises, GEDA office, public works department (PWD) works division IV, Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and the National Institute of Technology (NIT) have connected their solar installations to the grid system with the help of the electricity department. Grid connectivity ensures that surplus solar power generated by a plant is fed to the power grid, for which the electricity department compensates the consumer. The agency has already received proposals for grid connectivity of almost three megawatts and there are more than 20 applications pending. The Raj Bhavan, GEDA office, MPT, NIT and PWD division IV, all use solar power.