Solar energy in Imphal

Imphal, June 4: Manipur deputy chief minister  Yumnam Joykumar Singh today installed a Grid Connected Roof Top Solar Power Plant (8 KW) at United Friends’ Library and Club, Lamboikhongnangkhong in Imphal West.

This is the 8^th solar power plant being installed in Uripok Assembly Constituency so far. The first was installed on May 16.

Joykumar said, with increasing population, requirements of energy have also been increasing day by day. All conventional sources of energy like hydroelectric projects, thermal plants, nuclear power plants etc. have limitations in power generation. Such non-renewable sources of power have also been depleting because of its limitation in raw materials and its impact in human existence. Therefore, the only way out to replace such sources would be the renewable ones like solar, wind and tidal wave which are abundantly available in our environment.

If rooftops solar panels are installed power for street lamps and for domestic purposes can be easily generated, said the deputy chief minister.

The cheapest sources of energy would be the non-renewable sources, Joykumar said, it should be the alternative sources of energy and an assessment should be made to work out how much quantity of energy can be tapped through solar energy alone in the state. He said, our endeavour is to try our best to generate energy from renewable sources for the long run.

Altogether, 35 sites have been identified in Uripok constituency to be inaugurated in the first phase. Community halls, clubs, river banks and other public places will be covered in the first phase and it will be completed latest by June 30 this year, he added.

Director, Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency L. Manglem Singh said, the ‘solar roof top-grid connected’ project which was started in 2016 has been an ambitious one through which power generated from solar power plants can be connected to power grids in the state. He said, although power tariff in the state is low comparing with other states in the country, it has been revised every year and will increase further.

Under this policy, he said, the power generated by the plant can be used and the excess power can be sold to Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited which in turn can generate revenue.