VIJAYAWADA: A new 10 MW solar power plant will be set up at an estimated cost of `50 crore in 50 acres land at Jaggaiahpet in Krishna district, to supply solar power to all the seven major temples in the state.
With a view to reducing waste of energy, in accordance with the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE), the government initiated steps to replace all electrical equipment in the major temples across the state with new ones (designed with five-star wiring patterns).
As part of this, the endowments department, in coordination with State Energy Conservation Energy (SECM), conducted an audit to estimate the usage of energies and levels of wastage in the major seven temples including Srisailam, Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada, Srikalahasti, Kanipakam, Dwaraka Tirumala, Simhachalam and Annavaram.
The audit report said, these temples are using 60-65 lakh units of electrical energy and 200 tonnes of LPG gas is going waste every year. Following this, the government decided to supply solar power to the seven temples, principal secretary of revenue (endowments) JSV Prasad has said.
“The solar power will cost only `5.35 per unit against the regular electricity (`8 per unit). The Simhachalam Temple has already launched its own solar power plant with 1 MW capacity, following the government’s instructions,” he added.
He also exuded confidence that the distribution of energy-efficient fans and the DSM project, which aims to replace all the conventional streetlights with LED streetlights in all the municipalities and municipal corporations across the state, will be successful.