German experts visit solar installations in Chandigarh

New Delhi, 16.05.2013

Technical experts from PI Experts, Berlin and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH visited two rooftop solar PV plants installed by the Science and Technology Department, Chandigarh Administration. The two plants are of capacity 50 kWp each and are implemented on the roof of Paryavaran Bhawan and Govt. Model Senior Secondary School in Chandigarh. Later, the experts also addressed the gathering at a seminar organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The experts appreciated Chandigarh Administration for implementing good quality rooftop solar photovoltaic plants. The plants are designed first to meet the building electrical requirements and the excess electricity is exported to the grid. The solar plant at Paryavaran bhawan also has a unique feature to work as an island to meet the internal building electricity demand in case of power outages. The electricity is also stored in 240 V, 500 Ah battery bank to meet the night time electricity demand of the building. The technical experts will submit a short report to the Administration for further improvements for future projects.

Later during the day, Mr. Sven Lehmann and Mr. Asier Ukar from PI EXPERTS, Germany also shared their experience and knowledge about PV quality and different types of inverter schemes available in the market for rooftop applications at the seminar “Harvesting the Sun” organized by Chandigarh Renewable Energy Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) and CII. The seminar was inaugurated and addressed by Mr. K.K Sharma, Adviser to the Administrator, Chandigarh. Mr. Sharma stressed the role of industry to harness solar energy in the city and make this planned city of Chandigarh as a model solar city. The solar city programme in Chandigarh is being implemented by CREST.

Dr. A.K Tripathi, Director, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) presented the benefits and applications of concentrated solar thermal technology for meeting the thermal energy requirements in the industries. The audience also received insights from Mr. Santosh Kumar, Director (Science and Technology), Chandigarh Administration about the progress of Chandigarh in implementing solar rooftop systems on government buildings. The seminar which was attended by more than 120 participants closed on a common goal to make harness solar energy Chandigarh.

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) of India, apart from other projects, are working together in “Commercialisation of Solar Energy under Urban and Industrial areas” project where GIZ is supporting solar cities to implement solar technologies in urban and industrial areas.

PI Experts GmbH is an engineering and consulting company founded in 2003 in Germany. The founder Dipl.-Ing. Sven Lehmann is working in the area of photo-voltaic planning, branch services and realisation of international energy-projects since 20 years. In 2009 PI-Experts have a joint venture with the Photovoltaik-Institut Berlin, to provide testing and certification services to the clients.