Bhubaneswar-based Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences last month installed a 500 kWp rooftop solar photovoltaic project, the first of its kind by an educational institute in the country and the largest in the state of Odisha.

KISS is the largest residential educational institute for tribals in the world. It imparts education from kindergarten to post-graduation level.

The project was installed under the grid-connected roof top solar programme of the Solar Energy Corporation of India, an implementation and facilitation agency dedicated to the solar energy sector under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

The project has been built at a total cost of Rs. 4 crore. While KISS contributed 20 per cent of the project cost, Power Finance Corporation provided 50 per cent under its Corporate Social Responsibility funding. The balance 30 per cent came as subsidy through the SECI from MNRE.

The project, completed within a short period of seven-eight months, has capacity to generate more than seven lakh units of electricity and will lead to reduction in CO2 emissions of 650 tonnes every year. It will supply solar power to the Institute during day time for the next 25 years. In addition to reducing dependence on grid-connected power supply, the project will enable the Institute to generate green power and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

Odisha has a solar PV power potential of 14,000 MW. As of December 15, 2014, the total commissioned solar capacity in the state stood at 31.5 MW. The Indian government proposes to set up 25 solar parks across the country over the next five years. These parks will accommodate projects with an aggregate capacity of 20,000 MW. Solar parks of 1,000 MW aggregate capacity are proposed to be set up in Odisha.


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