‘Industries should switch over to solar energy for better’
Nagpur: Maharashtra, and Vidarbha region in particular, witnesses almost 300 sunny days per year with almost six hours of peak electricity generation. This untapped potential should therefore be encashed, said Abhyankar Bhushan, manager of Panasonic Solar Plant, on Saturday.
He was speaking at a techo-commercial meet organized by Vidarbha Industries Association (VIA) and Panasonic to create awareness about the benefits of solar rooftop systems and help industries of the region know its how and about.
Bhushan said that by 2020, Maharashtra will generate close to 20 giga watts of energy through solar rooftops. “These systems are going to be a one-stop solution to all load-shedding and electricity problems faced by the industrialists today. This is a one-time investment and you can procure its worth in merely five to six years from installation, which is a good return on investment. The added advantage are that you don’t need to allot special place for it,” he said.
Since the solar radiation falls directly on these panels, it decreases heat inside a building. Aside from other obvious advantages, industries can also acquire green building certification on the basis of solar panel installation, Bhushan added.
Apprising about the factors to be kept in mind while installing the system, he said, “Customers should not get blindsided with its cost as a higher price does not guarantee a better product. Instead, you should look for a panel that has been successfully running in the market for at least 15 years.”
He said, “Solar module is the main component in a rooftop system. So customers should make sure that their product hosts the best quality module.”
Bhushan also busted many myths and misconceptions about the system. “Solar panels work at a maximum of 19% efficiency and there is a misconception that with higher weather temperature, electricity generation is more. In reality, various components inside these systems might get destroyed in extreme temperatures, resulting into lesser electricity generation. Plus, the panels come with a yearly degrading factor which meant their quality is sure to degrade over a period of time.”
Also present at the meet was director of MSEB and vice-president RB Goenka and secretary Suhas Buddhe. The programme was conducted by Girdhari Mantri.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes
