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Written By murali772 - 19 November, 2008
Bangalore Infrastructure Power Privatization Media Reports Economy migration Solar Power
While the rest of the state is fretting over frequent power cuts, three little-known hamlets of Uttara Kannada district have uninterrupted power supply, thanks to Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank’s Vikasa Kirana scheme, launched in 1994, to avail of solar lighting units to enjoy uninterrupted power supply, a rarity in Karnataka these days.
Since Independence, these backward hamlets of less than 100 dwellers each had no power supply. The villagers here used to go to bed as early as 7 pm. It was not that they had no access to power. The villagers were not in a position to pay for the electricity poles and other costs to draw power lines to their houses.
However, things have changed now. Since July, they have solar lighting systems and some even watch Doordarshan by using the same system. According to Ullas Gunga of KVGB, the scheme has become so popular now that some families living in make-shift houses in the nearby villages have now migrated to these hamlets for uninterrupted power supply. “There were only 25 houses a year ago. Now there are over 60,” Ullas said. Ullas said the bank plans to cover 50 remote villages in Dharwad and Uttara Kannada district in the next few months.
A four-light solar system costs around Rs 20,000. Of this amount, the ministry of non-conventional energy sources gives Rs 5,500 as subsidy, he says.
For the full text, click on: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQkcvMjAwOC8xMS8xOCNBcjAxMDAw&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom
This is clearly the way to go in far-flung rural areas, rather than running kilometers of transmission lines. However, the ESCOMS are loathe to encouraging that since they will then no longer have an alibi for their poor performance. For more on that, click on:
http://praja.in/bangalore/blog/murali772/2008/05/28/imperatives-privatisation-power-distribution
Muralidhar Rao
COMMENTS
mcadambi - 19 November, 2008 - 19:06
But because Germany, one of the least sunny places subsidies heavily it's solar industry, the prices of solar panels remains high.
In India, solar thermal, in the form of solar water heaters has been quite successful and approaching a stage where subsidies are no longer necessary.
On an average, every upmarket home in Bangalore consumes about 10 - 20 units per month, representing about 1 kW to 2 kW.
A wind/solar pv hybrid with a lead acid batter bank is feasible for small apartment complexes.
narayan82 - 20 November, 2008 - 03:51
There is no end to the ongoing power cuts. It will only increase.
We cannot keep on building more power plants to meet our energy demands. We are going to drain all our resources and soon blackout.
What we really have to do is limit our consumption. That is the ONLY way we are going to arrive at a solution. This can be done only through enforcement. There are so many cases where I see electricity wasted!
- Bill Boards - when we dont get power in our homes, do we need to light up celebrity faces at night to sell us more products? Why cant we have solar powered billboards?
- Malls - These guys consume so much power its not a joke. Can't we find some alternative?
- Street Lighting, can we make this more economical. I know the Yellow lights consumer more power than the white ones. Also, how about sensors, that only turn on the lights when car/pedestrian pass?
- IT Cos. Exterior Lighting - places like UB City, use so much electricity to light up the exterior purely for aesthetical purposes - is this a dire neccesity for our city now?
- At home, we all leave the outside lights on. Do we need to do this everynight? Especially when the street lights are also on? Can we atleast make all extrior home lighitng mandatory to use CFLs?
Solar is definately one option for many of these areas. But I dont think it is enough. We need to work other methods. For example, the stench of the open drains can be stopped by closing the, and collecting the methan emmitted. This can be burn to create street lights.
Can we create building codes, that make natural lighting a mandatory element?
I am not sure about wind energy, but can't we get more out of it? Suzlon has set up a windfarm, can we not get more such inititives?
The government is wasting its money buying more power from its neighbors. Instead if they used that money to have more efficient usage of electricity it could make a huge difference.
idontspam - 21 November, 2008 - 17:39
Nice thought. Indeed it could be... this is truly the only country where that can happen. I cant imagine it happening in Europe.
Solar Power is the fundamental Source of power of sorts…
psaram42 - 21 November, 2008 - 15:35
Yes we can use solar power to replace use of petroleum to an extent of keeping it below dangerous levels considering global warming. The only hitch regarding Solar Power is the cost. If we can put enough capital on Solar Power whole of our country can be self sufficient in its present power needs. The Gobi desert can be turned into an asset probably.
To day I saw a Reva car which was carrying two stickers saying
1. “I cause no pollution why don’t you”
2. “My other car is also Reva”
Not surprising, Reva car is not a roaring success.
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