Maharashtra animal husbandry department plans solar projects to cut power bills and earn revenue

The Maharashtra Animal Husbandry Department plans to install solar power systems on its buildings and land to reduce electricity costs and potentially generate additional revenue by selling surplus power state minister Pankaja Munde has saidA memorandum of understanding MoU was signed on Thursday between the Animal Husbandry Commissionerate and Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology Limited MAHAPREIT to prepare a Detailed Project Report DPR for proposed solar energy projects according to a statement issued by MundeThe initiative is intended to reduce the departments electricity expenditure and eventually bring power bills for its buildings down to zero If the projects generate more electricity than the department consumes the surplus could be sold to earn additional revenueMAHAPREIT to assess feasibility of solar installationsMAHAPREIT a subsidiary of the Mahatma Phule Backward Class Development Corporation has expressed interest in implementing solar energy projects on land and buildings owned by the departmentThe proposed assessment will examine the availability of suitable sites including rooftops and determine whether solar installations are technically and financially feasible Site surveys will also be conducted before the detailed project report is preparedThe report is expected to establish the scope of the projects and help determine the next steps for implementation The department has not yet announced the proposed total capacity project cost or timeline for completing the installationsPilot projects planned in Pune and Beed districtThe first phase will focus on rooftop solar installations at two locations These include office buildings at the Animal Husbandry Commissionerate in Pune and a facility under the Maharashtra Livestock Development Board at Sakud in Ambajogai taluka of Beed districtThe pilot projects will help assess the suitability of the sites and the potential for generating electricity to meet the facilities power requirementsThe departments wider plan will depend on the findings of the site surveys and feasibility assessment Further installations could be considered based on the outcome of the initial projects and the availability of suitable land and rooftopsPlan aims to reduce recurring power expenditureElectricity is a recurring operating expense for government offices and facilities By generating power through solar installations the department aims to reduce its dependence on electricity purchased from the grid and lower its regular expenditureThe possibility of selling surplus electricity could provide an additional source of revenue subject to the capacity of the installations local grid arrangements and applicable regulationsHowever the goal of bringing electricity bills down to zero remains a future objective rather than a confirmed outcome Actual savings would depend on the scale of the installations energy consumption at the sites installation and maintenance costs and the terms under which excess power could be supplied to the gridRenewable energy initiative awaits detailed project reportThe MoU marks the preparatory stage of the initiative with MAHAPREIT expected to assess the proposed locations and develop the detailed project reportThe departments statement said the projects were aimed at encouraging the use of renewable energy while reducing electricityrelated expenditureWith inputs from PTI