Solar energy installations will benefit consumers and Electricity Department, say industries

Industries in Coimbatore have reiterated to the State government their demand for measures to promote solar energy generation.

N. Pradeep, secretary of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore, said promoting rooftop solar energy system installations in industries will benefit both, industrial consumers and the Electricity Department. The solar energy systems will reduce the stress on the grid and transformers as the MSME consumers will draw minimum power from the Department and use more of solar energy.

This will, in turn, reduce the maintenance expenditure for the State power utility of upto ₹40,000 to ₹60,000 a feeder every year. The government will also save the amount spent to purchase power during the solar peak hours.

The total annual savings for the government has the scope to cross ₹8,000 crore, he said.

This will also align with the National Solar Mission, distribution strengthening reforms, and carbon reduction commitments.

President of the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association, M. Karthikeyan, said the Association has appealed to the Central government for subsidies to promote installation of rooftop solar energy systems in industries. It has submitted a proposal to the Tamil Nadu government “We will submit again to the State government too,” he said.