After doing a trial run of installing solar panels at government offices and buildings constructed by the Public Works Department (PWD), the green building concept will be part of all civil works undertaken by the concern in a phased manner. The trial run was conducted at the Kerala High Court and Alappuzha Medical College. Now all construction works undertaken by the PWD will include power generation plans using solar panels.
T P Sadananda Pai, superintending engineer (electrical wing), PWD, said that the green concept will be incorporated in all the works undertaken. Even when repair works are undertaken, facilities for solar energy will be incorporated and panels installed.
“The judicial facilitation centre which is coming up in all the 14 districts will have facilities for generating solar energy. Kottayam Municipality has already provided `30 lakh for installing solar energy facilities in their buildings”, Pai said.
PWD is also running a trial for installing sophisticated panels instead of the usual flexible film. Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) solar cells and crystalline solar cells too will be used after conducting proper study. Plans are also on the anvil to use the latest technology of flexible film with triple junction at government office buildings. As the PWD possess the know-how for the technology, massive installation is possible at any time.
Pai added that the electrical systems installed at government offices were very old and an effective system has to be introduced before installing the solar panels. LED lights and energy efficient electrical materials will be used at government offices in a phased manner.
The State government had already allotted `15 crore in the budget for the year 2013-14 for installing solar panels in government offices. Around 25,000 offices in the state will install solar power panels, which is expected to produce 25 MW of power.