Re: [Green-India] World's biggest solar cooking project in Maharashtra

[Chandak]

Dear Members,

Sunny Greetings.

I am very proud to announce that recently we completed "World's biggest solar cooking project". This project involved manufacturing, supply, installation, commissioning and test and trial, inspection by MEDA authorities and collection of seven days performance reports for 300 community solar cookers at tribal schools across Maharashtra, from Gadchiroli to Thane and from Nandurbar to Nanded. This project of installation of 1200 sqm of aperture area for solar cooking system, under single order was largest in the world for cooking system and was done in just 45 days. M/s Essential Equipments Dhule grabbed the order and I was the chief coordinator for the project. The solar cooker is our own design. Details I will put on our website www.princeindia.org in few days time.

Regards.

 

Prof. Ajay Chandak.
M.Tech.(Mech) IITB.
Certified Energy Auditor and Renewable Energy Consultant.
PRINCE (Promoters & Researchers In Non Conventional Energy), Jankibai Trust,
 Shamgiri, Agra Road, Deopur, DHULE: 424005
 Cell:+91-9823033344, Ph./Fax: 02562-271795
 Email: aj...@princeindia.org, WEB: www.princeindia.org

----- Original Message -----

From: Prem Khera

To: green...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2007 4:16 PM

Subject: [Green-India] The power of the desert

April 22, 2007

 

Dear Members

 

BBC radio recently aired a programme called ‘The power of the desert’.  Most interesting as it discusses the use of solar power available in the deserts for worldwide energy needs.  You can listen to it on your computer by logging on to

 

www.bbc.co.uk

 

On the BBC page, enter ‘The power of the desert’ in the BBC search engine and this will lead you to the audio presentation of this 25 mins programme.

 

Wonder if there is any work going on in this field in Rajasthan?

 

Regards

 

Prem Khera

Qualification: Been using solar cookers for over 20 years.

 

  

 

---

Mega Airfare Sale. Click here Now.

[Manu Sharma]

Chandak < chan...@sancharnet.in> wrote:

I am very proud to announce that recently we completed "World's biggest solar cooking project". This project involved manufacturing, supply, installation, commissioning and test and trial, inspection by MEDA authorities and collection of seven days performance reports for 300 community solar cookers at tribal schools across Maharashtra, from Gadchiroli to Thane and from Nandurbar to Nanded. This project of installation of 1200 sqm of aperture area for solar cooking system, under single order was largest in the world for cooking system and was done in just 45 days.

Dear Prof. Chandak.

Congratulations on this achievement. 300 cookers with 1200sq.m aperture equals 4sq.m /cooker. On your website I see "Community Parabolic Dish Cooker" that matches the same aperture area.

The price listed is Rs.15,000. Therefore, this project should cost around 15000 x 300 = Rs.45 Lakh (4.5 million INR or USD 110,000).

It's is particularly good to see that these cookers will be used in tribal schools, (perhaps under the government's "food for education" program?)

Since these are for remote areas they will most likely replace wood based cooking methods which spew out much more CO2 emissions than LPG based cooking in cities. I'm assuming that the embodied energy in the cookers is pretty low since it is only aluminum (?) and reflective sheets.

Looking forward to hear more details about the project. Congratulations again.

Thanks,
Manu

[Chandak]

Yes it is the same cooker. We have not updated the price since long, current prices are in the range of Rs. 20000/- ex factory. Cost of the tender was higher as it included costly accessories like 15 lit. pressure cooker costing Rs. 3000/- plus transportation and installation to remote tribal school sites etc. Inspection visits and collecting test reports is also included in the cost. The project cost was around 80 lakhs.

60 cookers were installed by the tribal ministry last year and the feed backs were very encouraging, hence additional order of 300 cookers was placed by them this year. This project shows huge amount of untapped potential in the country. There are thousands of schools involved in mid day meals, thousands of residential schools, hotels, motels etc. who can use this simple technology to save fossil fuels.

 

Embodied energy is pretty low, not worth calculating energy paybacks.

Details will be uploaded on our website soon.

 

I have recently seen the movie 'Inconvenient Truth' by Al Gore. Excellent movie. I recommend to all our members to see this  and recommend to friends as well.

 

Regards

 

Ajay Chandak.

----- Original Message -----

[as...@nic.in]

Congrats to Prof Ajay Chandak for this achievement.

ASRao
TePP network

Chandak <chan...@sancharnet.in> wrote:
>>
>> I am very proud to announce that recently we completed "World's biggest
>> solar cooking project". This project involved manufacturing, supply,
>> installation, commissioning and test and trial, inspection by MEDA
>> authorities and collection of seven days performance reports for 300
>> community solar cookers at tribal schools across Maharashtra, from
>> Gadchiroli to Thane and from Nandurbar to Nanded. This project of
>> installation of 1200 sqm of aperture area for solar cooking system,
>> under
>> single order was largest in the world for cooking system and was done in
>> just 45 days.
>>
>
> Dear Prof. Chandak.
>
> Congratulations on this achievement. 300 cookers with 1200sq.m aperture
> equals 4sq.m/cooker. On your

> website<http://www.princeindia.org/newproducts.htm>I see "Community

> Parabolic Dish Cooker" that matches the same aperture area.
>
>

[Manu Sharma]

On 4/23/07, Chandak <chan...@sancharnet.in> wrote:

Yes it is the same cooker. We have not updated the price since long, current prices are in the range of Rs. 20000/- ex factory.

Thanks for clarifying. Can you tell us about the material the dish is made of and the expected lifespan?

Manu

[Devendra Shetye]

Dear Prof. Chandak,

Heartiest congratulations to you & Rahul Kulkarni for
a great job.

Regards,

Devendra Shetye
Mumbai

--- Chandak <chan...@sancharnet.in> wrote:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Mega Airfare Sale. Click here Now.
>
>
>
>
>
>

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

[Shireesh Kedare]

Great, Prof. Chandak !

Regards,

- Shireesh
______________________________
Dr. Shireesh B. Kedare

Adjunct Associate Professor,
Energy Systems Engineering,
IIT-Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India
Ph. (022) 2576 7835
www.ese.iitb.ac.in/~sbk

Director
Clique Developments Private Limited
134-A/B, Government Industrial Estate
Charkop, Kandivali (West),
Mumbai 400067, India
Ph. (022) 2860 9011
www.clique.in
--------------------------------------
 

[Kadiyala Dhanumjaya]

Dear Prof. Chandak,

 

It is really a great step towards implementing solar energy concepts by installing such a huge cooking system at Gujarat.

 

Gadhira Solar had installed at Tirumala and it is catering for more than 30,000 people per day and they are using hybrid system to get the steam from both solar as well as diesel firing. On peak days TTD has to serve the food for more than 1.5Lakhs people and let us work out to install these type of systems to meet their needs.

 

Recently I have installed 64500 LPD Solar Water Heating systems to some of their guest houses and exploring more opportunities.

 

Noe some of the companies are pushing Evacuated Tubular Collectors (China Product) water heating systems and i would like to know from you the merits and demerits of both Flat Plate and EVT. I am bit confused because one section of peple are saying EVT is better that Flat Plate and I request you to furnish some info in this regard.

 

I will be in touch with Sir for further assistance/clarifications.

 

Regards

Dhanumjaya . K

Managing Partner

BizPraana Management Consultancy Services,

Authorised Dealer for Tata BP Solar

20-1-136/C, Tirumala By Pass Road,

Korlagunta, Tirupati - 517501,AP

Ph: Off: 0877 6575419

Mobile: +91 99493 25007

 

[Chandak]

Dear Mr. Dhanumjaya,

Sunny Greetings.

Gadhia family is our close associates and friends. I know almost all the projects executed by them We had a 8 day training at their place with Wolfgang Scheffler, very nice people to work with.

 

For comparison of Flat Plate systems and VTC (Vacuum Tube Collector) I favor VTC, which is also called ETC (Evacuated tube collector). We have tried all types of systems in the market (not the brands) and found ETC as overall suitable system. My opinion is based on following.

 

1. These glass tubes from China are not like the other substandard chinease products in the market. In fact chinese are known of  best quality glass and ceramic works. I remember in my childhood only rich people used to have bone china tea sets. The quality of glass tubes we have seen is excellent.

 

2. Technically this is better suited system with better efficiency to trap the Sun. Actually companies adjust the diameter of tube, length of tube and spacing in such a manner that they try to match overall performance close to that of copper tube panels.

 

3. Main issue is cost and these systems are so cheap that with current cost of copper it is impossible for the flat plate collector manufacture to even come close to the cost offered by these companies. The landed cost of the system in India is in the range of Rs. 80/- to Rs. 130/- per liter, which the copper tube panel can not match. If we get technically similar system but at 60% of the price, people will definitely prefer it.

 

4. It is good system for maintainance. In copper tubes the size is small, just 12 mm ID which is very difficult to descale after 2-3 years of use. Even acid wash has to be done carefully as the excess concentration eats up copper, so you need to keep sulphonic acid concentration to below 2%, which cleans up the tube with very great difficulty or sometime does not clean it at all. On the other hand vacuum tubes are having large diameter, normally 38 mm min. you can put a brush inside and clean. These are glass tubes can withstand even pure acid, so cleaning the tubes is not a problem. The system springs back to 100% performance, which is impossible in flat plate collector.

 

5. In case of breakage etc. because of some accident you need to change glass of flat plate panel worth Rs. 2000 plus. In vacuum tube if one tube breaks it costs you less than Rs. 300/-

 

There can be many other issues I can put on the discussion, I have listed only importent ones. I think the cost consideration is such that it is impossible for flat plate collector manufacturer to compete. In our region more than 90% of the business has already shifted to these Vacuum tubes. The only people I have seen opposing VTC are manufacturers and dealers of Flat plate collectors.

 

I also wish to add that the plastic system (Sintex type) are hopeless. They do not have greenhouse so they do not work in cloudy weather, reradiation losses are there and heating in winter is much lower than other systems, in peak summers when temp. are above 45 degree, the plastic softens and I have seen some systems inflated like baloon and bursting.

 

Regards,

 

Prof. Ajay Chandak.

----- Original Message -----

From: Kadiyala Dhanumjaya

To: green...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 6:33 PM

Subject: [Green-India] Re: World's biggest solar cooking project in Maharashtra

Dear Prof. Chandak,

 

It is really a great step towards implementing solar energy concepts by installing such a huge cooking system at Gujarat.

 

Gadhira Solar had installed at Tirumala and it is catering for more than 30,000 people per day and they are using hybrid system to get the steam from both solar as well as diesel firing. On peak days TTD has to serve the food for more than 1.5Lakhs people and let us work out to install these type of systems to meet their needs.

 

Recently I have installed 64500 LPD Solar Water Heating systems to some of their guest houses and exploring more opportunities.

 

Noe some of the companies are pushing Evacuated Tubular Collectors (China Product) water heating systems and i would like to know from you the merits and demerits of both Flat Plate and EVT. I am bit confused because one section of peple are saying EVT is better that Flat Plate and I request you to furnish some info in this regard.

 

I will be in touch with Sir for further assistance/clarifications.

 

Regards

Dhanumjaya . K

Managing Partner

BizPraana Management Consultancy Services,

Authorised Dealer for Tata BP Solar

20-1-136/C, Tirumala By Pass Road,

Korlagunta, Tirupati - 517501,AP

Ph: Off: 0877 6575419

Mobile: +91 99493 25007

 

On 5/4/07, Shireesh Kedare <sbke...@gmail.com> wrote:

[seeds seeds]

HARE KRISHNA

Dear Prof Chandak and fellow IITian,

You have done a great work for the cause of energy conservation and a better environment.  Hope such projects get replicated everywhere in India.

The Midday meal program is there in most states.  Most of the schools do not spend any money from the funds allocated towards fuel required for cooking.  They resort to firewood and thus cut trees adding to loss of tree cover.

Your project is one of the most suitable and ideal solution to the midday meal program.  A one time grant will help the government and also the schools.  Moreover this could help in the long run in educating the children about solar and its applications.

Ofcourse there are many other applications where the industry/offices need to be educated and convinced for using solar based products especially cooking systems.  My feeling is the solar cookers are a great advantage to Roadside Dhabbas, Rural establishments/households, small scale manufacturers of snacks etc.

we need to make efforts in this direction to push the application of solar.  I look forward to all the details.

Congratulations once again on your achievement.

Best Regards

P.N.Rao,
SEEDS
Plot No 27, Tirumala Enclave
Trimulgherry,
Secunderabad - 500015
e-mail: see...@rediffmail.com

[Kadiyala Dhanumjaya]

Dear Sir,

 

Thank you for sparing your valuable time in replying my mail. Next week I have to give presentation to Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams(TTD) officials on comparision matrix between Flat Plate and EVT. TTD wants to implement solar energy utilisation in massive scale (both Thermal & PV) and I am working very closely with NEDCAP to facilitate and realise TTD projects. Even NEDCAP is insisting to go ahead with EVT. Since our company is the authorised dealer for Tata BP Solar India Limited in AP, they are saying following things:        1. Performance wise EVT is better that Flat Plate

2. Based on the claimatic conditions at Tirumala and the based on usage pattern Flat Plate is advisable

3. Life span of the systems - Flat Plate has got more life span than EVT

4. Another major problem is brekage of tubes

 

TTD is looking at Installing more than 2Lakh LPD during this FY 2007- 08. Since it is massive in size, Tata BP informed that it would difficult to identify the breakage of tubes when it is hundreds in numbers. 

 

Herewith attach Tata BP's comparision matrix between Flat Plate and EVT and I sincerely request you to go through it and pls give your comments and suggestions. I want to give an unbaised presentation to TTD on Flat Plate and EVT.

 

Once again thank you for your reply and time.

 

Regards

K. Dhanumjaya

+91 9949325007
 

[Chandak]

Dear Mr. Danumjaya,

Sunny Greetings.

 

My observation in the market is that all the flat plate manufacturers are trying to introduce fear of different kind in the mind of the customers for VTC. Especially everybody talks of fear of breakage. We have monitored 20 systems over last 4 years (more than 400 tubes) and not a single tube broke in 4 years. No loss of vacuum (visible) or degradation in performance was reported by users. Please go through the performance curve provided by TATA BP, which itself shows that even after 15 years and vacuum loss VTC retains more than 90% absorptivity.

There is no mention on harness of water. Even little hardness can hault the performance of flat plate collector in 2 to 5 years time, while VTCare easy to clean.

I have added a column to the comparison matrix with my comments for your reference.

Life Span of system is better in case of VTC and not in flat plate.

 

I am not selling any system, I am a consultant and promoter of renewable energy systems and my views should be taken as a neutral observer. If somebody is ready to offer us testing and comparative scientific studies of the systems, we can also do that. TATA BP being one of the probable bidders, have distorted the information in their favor.

 

Regards

 

Prof. Ajay Chandak.

----- Original Message -----

From: Kadiyala Dhanumjaya

To: green...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 10:09 AM

Subject: [Green-India] Re: World's biggest solar cooking project in Maharashtra

Dear Sir,

 

Thank you for sparing your valuable time in replying my mail. Next week I have to give presentation to Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams(TTD) officials on comparision matrix between Flat Plate and EVT. TTD wants to implement solar energy utilisation in massive scale (both Thermal & PV) and I am working very closely with NEDCAP to facilitate and realise TTD projects. Even NEDCAP is insisting to go ahead with EVT. Since our company is the authorised dealer for Tata BP Solar India Limited in AP, they are saying following things:        1. Performance wise EVT is better that Flat Plate

2. Based on the claimatic conditions at Tirumala and the based on usage pattern Flat Plate is advisable

3. Life span of the systems - Flat Plate has got more life span than EVT

4. Another major problem is brekage of tubes

 

TTD is looking at Installing more than 2Lakh LPD during this FY 2007- 08. Since it is massive in size, Tata BP informed that it would difficult to identify the breakage of tubes when it is hundreds in numbers. 

 

Herewith attach Tata BP's comparision matrix between Flat Plate and EVT and I sincerely request you to go through it and pls give your comments and suggestions. I want to give an unbaised presentation to TTD on Flat Plate and EVT.

 

Once again thank you for your reply and time.

 

Regards

K. Dhanumjaya

+91 9949325007
 

On 5/5/07, Chandak <chan...@sancharnet.in> wrote:

[Kadiyala Dhanumjaya]

Dear Sir,

 

I am extremely thankful for your kind reply and let us make our effort in making India Energy Independent. 

 

I have taken initiative to promote solar energy concepts to school kids in our area. I have identified 100 schools at Tirupati to conduct a seminar to all HMs to make them to understand how the solar energy is beneficial for them as well as country like India. Why I have chosen this is that I want to convey this message through HMs to students by using Solar Educational Kits. Kids are going to be the future generation of our nation and I felt it is better introduce this concept to them at the school level. Further more in AP's school curriculam there is a chapter on energy sources and in that Solar was high lighted. The best way to make them understand how solar energy can be utilised is by showing a demo through educational kit. Tata BP has manufactured Solar Educational Kit for school kids and I am going to request school HMs to buy one or two sets of these kits.

 

I sincerely request you sir, pls let me know where I can buy cost effective solar educational kit to supply to all rural and urban schools.(Tata BP's Solar Educational Kit is around Rs 12000.00 which is expensive)

 

Tata Bp is also conducting Arunodaya Progarm - Awareness Creation Program on Solar energy and I request you furnish some info on how we can inculcate this concept to School Kids.My plan of action for this program as follows:

1. I am going to meet all HMs personally through introduction letter for conducting 2 hrs seminar

2. Leaflets of Solar Educational Kit

3. Leaflets of Arunodaya Program

 

After taking HMs concent, I will conduct a seminar and demo to HMs. Later I will go to school by school to conduct a breif session with school kids along with demo kit.

 

Pls give your suggestions and comments on my proposed awareness program for the kids of our future generation.

 

Note: Herewith attach introduction letter that I have prepared to go and meet HMs. Pls go through it and make changes if necessary.

 

Thanking you

[Chandak]

I highly appreciate the initiative taken by you. I am not aware about the kit, that Tata BP provides, but I have seen few such kits in the market from other companies, which are highly loaded with 'Solar PV' systems. They provide one solar panel and few models and toys those run on it. There had been a lot of discussion on solar PV on this platform earlier as well and even though I am working in renewable energy area, I am not for solar PV. My views in this regard,

 

1. We should not promote Solar PV in it's present form. Current systems are inefficient, battery storage is required and battery replacement cost is huge. If we consider all interest, depreciation burdon along with other costs then the power cost by this route is more than Rs. 100 per kWh, which nobody can justify. By promoting solar PV we are fooling students and other common people. We should be very strict in introduction of this technology that it is a technical possibility but no way one can implement it at reasonable cost. This cost limitation has to be given big publicity. Solar PV can never payback financially.

 

2. Solar PV as used in India is not green either. These systems do not payback the energy invested in manufacturing the units in it's life time. Hence net energy output is negative. Moreover we use lot of conventional power to manufacture solar PV systems in advance and hope for return of this power throuogh generation from PV module in future 20 years or so. Net energy balance of solar PV is negative as used in battery charging system is negative.

 

3. For above reasons net 'Environmental Impact' of solar PV is also negative. People compare the system in Europe and all, but one needs to understand that in Europe all systems are grid connected systems and not battery charging systems.

 

4. Solar PV is good only for micro and mini systems, with solar caps, calculators, watches, mobile chargers etc. If we are taking these systems for promotion, we have to be very clear that solar PV is not for conventional power generation, it is only for mini and micro systems.

 

5. Some good news is there that few companies have come up with concentrating solar PV systems those can generate power with high efficiency and bring down the power cost below Rs. 10/-. It will be a big breakthrough if it proves the performance on the field. Let us hope ann pray for success of such systems and technology.

 

6. We have to promote only those renewable energy technologies which are green, financially competitive and socially acceptable. Solar thermal is one of the best technologies, but I do not know any kit available in the market, which demonstrates different solar cookers, solar water heaters, concentrators, industrial systems, dryers etc. Other options are biogas, biomass, microhydro, human and animal power etc.

 

Regards

 

Prof. Ajay Chandak.

----- Original Message -----

From: Kadiyala Dhanumjaya

To: green...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 5:31 PM

Subject: [Green-India] Re: World's biggest solar cooking project in Maharashtra

Dear Sir,

 

I am extremely thankful for your kind reply and let us make our effort in making India Energy Independent. 

 

I have taken initiative to promote solar energy concepts to school kids in our area. I have identified 100 schools at Tirupati to conduct a seminar to all HMs to make them to understand how the solar energy is beneficial for them as well as country like India. Why I have chosen this is that I want to convey this message through HMs to students by using Solar Educational Kits. Kids are going to be the future generation of our nation and I felt it is better introduce this concept to them at the school level. Further more in AP's school curriculam there is a chapter on energy sources and in that Solar was high lighted. The best way to make them understand how solar energy can be utilised is by showing a demo through educational kit. Tata BP has manufactured Solar Educational Kit for school kids and I am going to request school HMs to buy one or two sets of these kits.

 

I sincerely request you sir, pls let me know where I can buy cost effective solar educational kit to supply to all rural and urban schools.(Tata BP's Solar Educational Kit is around Rs 12000.00 which is expensive)

 

Tata Bp is also conducting Arunodaya Progarm - Awareness Creation Program on Solar energy and I request you furnish some info on how we can inculcate this concept to School Kids.My plan of action for this program as follows:

1. I am going to meet all HMs personally through introduction letter for conducting 2 hrs seminar

2. Leaflets of Solar Educational Kit

3. Leaflets of Arunodaya Program

 

After taking HMs concent, I will conduct a seminar and demo to HMs. Later I will go to school by school to conduct a breif session with school kids along with demo kit.

 

Pls give your suggestions and comments on my proposed awareness program for the kids of our future generation.

 

Note: Herewith attach introduction letter that I have prepared to go and meet HMs. Pls go through it and make changes if necessary.

 

Thanking you

 

[ran...@me.iitb.ac.in]

While it is true that SPV is costly, it is net energy positive. Also there
are several niche applications where it is found to be convenient and
useful - eg Sunderbans 40000 small home systems, 9 PV mini grids
I agree with your contention that other options need to be pushed. However
I think there are possible future cost reductions, technology improvements
in almost all technologies - including SPV. Incidentally the PV industry
in India is growing mainly based on exports.
Regards,
Rangan

[Chandak]

Dear Dr. Rangan,
Thanks for intervention. Word of advice from expert like you will be very
helpful.

Please send me any authenticated data that you have, to show SPV is net
energy positive with battery charging system. We need specific energy
consumption of soalr PV panel, frames, glass, cables, charge controller,
batteries etc.
The only authentic data I could get was for SPV panel and it showed that
energy payback for the panel alone is 5-7 years. They talk of generation by
SPV panel only. If you think of all efficiencies of charge controller,
charging batteries (electricity to chemical), invertors (DC to AC) etc. the
net efficiency is hardly 35%.
(I am using invertors at home as we have 8 hrs power cut, and the net
efficiency is hardly 35% with AC power in and AC power out from the
charger-battery- invertor system. For every three units input to invertor
battery system, I am getting just one unit net output. This will be valid
for all battery charging systems including solar PV).

If I take these figures for net utilisable power then energy payback for the
SPV panel alone works out to be 15 to 21 years, which is life of panel.
(When we add energy consumed during manufacturing charge controller, cables,
5 to 8 battery replacements, transportation of all these components, it will
be net energy negative.)

I learnt from my friend who visited Sunderban that the hybridisation is with
diesel genset, which generates major power share. Do they have separate D.C.
metering system to measure power generated from SPV? As far as I know not a
single installation in Maharashtra has such D.C. metering and hence the data
provided by the people can not be segregated as how much battery charging is
done by SPV and how much by grid. (Almost all battery charging systems are
also grid connected). MEDA provided the list of such installations and
mentioned the power production is between 2.5 to 3 kWh per day per KVA
installation. As there is no metering system, this is also a guess work, I
suppose.
Any way for remote off grid areas like Sunderban, any sort of power can be
justified. NO POWER IS COSTLIER THAN NO POWER.

India exports soalr PV panels to Europe where even small systems are grid
connected. If we eliminate batteries the scene is much better. Also in
europe people pay voluntarily as high as Rs. 35/- per kWh for green power.
In India we can not have grid connected systems.

All these views are after a lot of discussion with concerned people,
investigatigations and few field trials. You are an authority in this area
and we will like to know more from you on these issues. Your guidance is of
emmense importence to clear all doubts in my mind.
Only data I could get was from Tata BP for solar panels, other companies for
charge controller, cables, batteries either do not know their specific
energy consumption or do not want to share. You have much better access to
industries as well and can get this information from concerned
manufacturers. I will be very happy if you can share such information.

Regards

Prof. Ajay Chandak.

----- Original Message -----
From: <ran...@me.iitb.ac.in>
To: <green...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 7:43 PM
Subject: [Green-India] Re: World's biggest solar cooking project in
Maharashtra

>

> While it is true that SPV is costly, it is net energy positive. Also there
> are several niche applications where it is found to be convenient and
> useful - eg Sunderbans 40000 small home systems, 9 PV mini grids
> I agree with your contention that other options need to be pushed. However
> I think there are possible future cost reductions, technology improvements
> in almost all technologies - including SPV. Incidentally the PV industry
> in India is growing mainly based on exports.
> Regards,
> Rangan
>

[Manu Sharma]

On 5/5/07, Chandak <chan...@sancharnet.in> wrote:

Please send me any authenticated data that you have, to show SPV is net
energy positive with battery charging system.

I believe Prof. Rangan was referring to solar photovoltaic as net energy positive by itself, not including the energy storage. We have had several discussions in the past on this list on solar power and I think it was shown through several studies to be net energy positive as far as the PV component is concerned.

As also pointed out in the past, standalone SPV systems make perfect sense in places like Sunderbans where the alternative - taking the grid is not feasible and greenhouse gas emissions involved in diesel power generation are much more severe.  I'm attaching below a comparison of GHG emissions caused by various energy technologies.



Thanks,
Manu

[Manu Sharma]

On 5/5/07, Chandak <chan...@sancharnet.in> wrote:

5. Some good news is there that few companies have come up with concentrating solar PV systems those can generate power with high efficiency and bring down the power cost below Rs. 10/-. It will be a big breakthrough if it proves the performance on the field. Let us hope ann pray for success of such systems and technology.

I'm actually closely following one such company that is expected to launch its products in India for residential rooftop systems later this year. It will bring down the cost to far less than Rs.10 per kWh and compete hands on with the cheapest fossil fuel energy source without needing any subsidies.

It will indeed be a great breakthrough.

Thanks
Manu
 

[ran...@me.iitb.ac.in]

Dear Ajay,
The cost of electricity is high. I will forward you by separate mail a pdf
file of a recent paper showing the calculations - The energy payback is
about 4 years. The Govt is no longer supporting grid- connected PV.
Incidentally there are 9 PV only grids in the Sunderbans. The capital cost
is subsidised.
Don't get me wrong - I am not saying that we should support PV at the
expense of biogas, gasifiers..but I feel that PV has its niche.
I completely agree with you that we should have publicly avaialable data
on actual generation and costs.
Regards,
Rangan

[Chandak]

Moser Bear gave one presentation at Deptt. of Science and Technology, GOI sometime back. We tried to track them ourselves and also through Deptt. os Science and technology for a possible project of 4 MW, but nobody is responding. It is surprising that the companies are making presentation to Govt. but not showing interest in the commercial projects for which people are approaching. Let us hope the technology matures fast and becomes commercially available soon.

 

Prof. Ajay Chandak.

----- Original Message -----

From: Manu Sharma

To: green...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 10:26 PM

Subject: [Green-India] Re: World's biggest solar cooking project in Maharashtra

On 5/5/07, Chandak <chan...@sancharnet.in> wrote:

5. Some good news is there that few companies have come up with concentrating solar PV systems those can generate power with high efficiency and bring down the power cost below Rs. 10/-. It will be a big breakthrough if it proves the performance on the field. Let us hope ann pray for success of such systems and technology.

[Manu Sharma]

On 5/5/07, Chandak <chan...@sancharnet.in> wrote:

Moser Bear gave one presentation at Deptt. of Science and Technology,

Yes, Moser Baer is in collaboration with Solfocus to produce their gen-1 concentrating PV modules in Delhi (Noida) using Spectrolab's triple junction concentrator cells that work at a concentration ratio of 500 suns. It's not the only company though innovating in this sphere. Others have gone much further with their module efficiency.

Concentrating PV is a very very exciting space. Although there aren't many products in the market yet, but people working in this area claim that in 2-3 years' time CPV will overtake silicon PV in installed capacity.

Manu

[Chandak]

We have some serious inquiries for something like 4MW plant. If you know anybody seriously interested in trying out the pilot plant, we can have some investors coming up. Just put concerned people in touch with us.

Thanks.

 

Prof. Ajay Chandak.

----- Original Message -----

From: Manu Sharma

To: green...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 11:09 PM

Subject: [Green-India] Re: World's biggest solar cooking project in Maharashtra

On 5/5/07, Chandak <chan...@sancharnet.in> wrote:

Moser Bear gave one presentation at Deptt. of Science and Technology,

[Manu Sharma]

On 5/6/07, Chandak <chan...@sancharnet.in> wrote:

We have some serious inquiries for something like 4MW plant. If you know anybody seriously interested in trying out the pilot plant, we can have some investors coming up.

As far as I know, production schedule of the India licensee of the company hasn't been finalised yet although elsewhere production has likely begun. But yes, I will get you in touch with the concerned people.

Thanks,
Manu