Kavaratti (Lakshadweep): Solar energy will light up Lakshadweep’s capital city of Kavaratti from the solar power station inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. The solar power station, commissioned by the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) is the region’s first on-grid solar project with state-of-the-art battery energy storage system (BESS) technology.
Together, these two installations of SECI have a combined solar capacity of 1.7 MW and an advanced 1.4 MWh battery storage facility.
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Kavaratti, located around 360km off the coast of Kerala, is the capital of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep in India. Kavaratti is a census town as well as the name of the atoll upon which the town stands. It is well known for its pristine white sand beaches and calm lagoons, which makes it a popular tourist destination.
A matter of monumental stride towards sustainable energy solutions for the archipelago, the solar power plant will help reduce dependency on the diesel-based power generation plant at Kavaratti. The Lakshadweep Energy Development Agency (LEDA) will now harness power from these solar plants, marking a pivotal shift from diesel-based power to a sustainable, eco-friendly energy source for the region.
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Over the anticipated technical lifespan, the initiative is projected to yield commercial savings of approximately ₹250 crores. The substantial reduction of diesel consumption by up to 190 lakh litres and the offsetting of 58,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions underscore its profound significance in promoting green energy and fostering a cleaner and more sustainable future for Lakshadweep.
The engineering, procurement & construction (EPC) expertise for the project has been provided by SunSource Energy.
Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited
Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI), a miniratna category-I central public sector unit under the administrative control of the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE), Government of India, is engaged in promotion and development of various renewable energy resources, especially Solar and Wind energy, renewable energy (RE) – based storage systems, trading of power, R&D as well as RE-based products like Green Hydrogen, Green Ammonia and RE-powered electric vehicles.
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The company is one of the nodal agencies for implementation of a number of schemes of MNRE. The company also has a category 1 power trading license and is active in this domain through trading of Solar/Wind/Hybrid/RTC/BSES power from projects set up under the schemes being implemented by it.
