Burail Jail, Chd: India’s First Jail to Run Entirely on Solar Energy

Model Burail Jail in Chandigarh has set its sights on becoming the first prison in India to be 100 per cent solar-powered.

Chandigarh Renewal Energy Science and Technology (CREST) awarded the final tender for the addition of a 210-kilowatt solar power plant to the existing 500 kilowatt unit of the Burail Jail. This will bring the total installed capacity of the prison  to 710 kilowatts. The penitentiary uses about 8.40 lakh units of power in total, but CREST estimates that the 710 kilowatt solar system would produce 9.23 lakh units.

Once all of the solar plants are operational, they will be able to save the money that the jail currently pays the Chandigarh administration’s power department each month, according to sources. The jail’s parking lot has also been used for solar power. For Rs 1.78 crore, a 350 kWp rooftop solar power plant has been erected in the jail’s parking lot. The final phase’s tender was set at Rs 1 crore. The chosen firm must finish the job by the end of October.

One of the most important objectives of the administration, which has so far covered schools, colleges, offices, and government buildings, is the installation of solar plants in the city. Numerous other structures have also been located. According to sources, attempts are also being made to persuade citizens to choose solar panels for their rooftops.

A 350 kWp rooftop solar power plant was recently launched at the Model Jail Complex in Chandigarh by UT Adviser Dharam Pal in the presence of DGP Praveer Ranjan and Debendra Dalai, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology and Renewable Energy.

The solar farm was erected for Rs. 1.78 crores at the Model Jail’s exterior parking space. Chandigarh Renewable Science & Technology Promotion Society (CREST), UT, developed and carried out the project. The data state that this plant produces a minimum of 4,20,000 kWh (units) annually with a module efficiency of 17%.