Solar panels to light up corporation buildings

Chennai: Greater Chennai Municipal Corporation project of fitting solar panels on the top of corporation owned building finally got approved by the state government, which has enabled the civic body to reduce the electricity bills by tapping into solar power.

662 buildings owned by corporation including primary health centers, offices, public halls, dispensaries and schools will be fitted with solar panels as opposed to earlier proposal of fitting solar panels on 1000 corporation owned buildings.

“The total capacity of the panels installed across these buildings will be around 3.06MW, which will bring us a reduction in electricity bills. While the capacity of solar panels will differ from one building to another, based on the total capacity of 3MW, we are expected to save 72,000 per month,” an official said.

Except Ripon Building, which is a heritage building other offices and building which come under GCMC will be fitted with solar panel on rooftops, the expected price to carry out the work is Rs 22 crore.

Another official said that they are planning to set up solar panels with capacity to generate 50kW of energy behind Ripon Building at Amma Maigai that houses the corporation department offices.

Municipal administration minister S P Velumani in 2017 announced in the state assembly that solar panels will be installed on corporation and municipality buildings across the state in order for them to become self-dependent for power.