Renewable Energy Sources to Replace Diesel-based Power: TERI Submits Feasibility Report

Renewable Energy Sources to Replace Diesel-based Power

TERI Submits Feasibility Report

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has completed a feasibility study of 6 Islands - North Andaman, Middle Andaman, South Andaman, Little Andaman, Baratang and Car Nicobar to explore the possibility of shifting from Diesel based power generation to sustainable and economically feasible renewable energy sources.

A presentation was given to the Lt. Governor on 28th November’2014 on the feasibility study report by Sr. Fellow Ujjwal Bhattacharjee of TERI in presence of senior officers of Administration and engineers of Electricity Department.

On the direction of Lieutenant Governor, the Electricity Department had engaged The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI) to conduct a feasibility study in two phases to explore the potential in 6 Islands of A&N to phase out diesel based power supply.

 According to the Feasibility Study Report, North Andaman can meet its 100% energy requirements from renewable sources i.e. from the existing hydro plant and further supported by rooftop and ground mounted Solar power plants.

In South Andaman, Port Blair alone has a potential of at least 3 MW Rooftop Solar Power by utilizing the roofs of existing commercial and government buildings. There is reasonable wind power potential in Collinpur, South Andaman but the existing road which is very narrow and has sharp bends will be a bottleneck for shifting the wind turbine blades to the site. A separate study has to be made after receipt of the exact size of turbine blades for shifting of wind turbine to the site through the existing road.

In the existing 5 MW Solar Power Plant at Garacharma, a 3 MW energy storage for 1 Hour at a cost of Rs. 6-10 Crores can arrest the present intermittency problem in the Solar power output due to cloud passage.

Car Nicobar has the potential for a 2.4 MW biomass power plant which will save about 2500 KL diesel worth Rs. 15 Crores annually.

A total of 8 MW Rooftop Solar Power can be established on the roofs of existing commercial and government buildings in these six islands. The investment required will be about Rs. 80 Crores and by which we will save at least 6000 Kilo Liters of diesel worth Rs. 40 Crores annually. The investment in biomass and solar power plants will be paid back in two years.

After the presentation the Lt. Governor directed both Electricity Department and TERI to prepare an actionable plan for phase-wise implementation/execution of the findings of feasibility study report.

Ujjwal Bhattacharjee further informed that a team of Sr. Scientists of TERI will conduct a workshop in the 2nd week of December to educate the engineers of Electricity Department about exploitation of renewable energy for replacement diesel based power generation.

Lieutenant Governor has directed TERI to invite the media to attend this workshop for wider dissemination about renewable energy prospects for A&N Islands.