First Hybrid Solar And Wind Power Project Comes Up In Kerala By ANERT

In a novel beginning, the Electricity Minister of the Kerala Government, K Krishnankutty, has inaugurated a hybrid solar and wind energy project in the state. The renewable energy project was developed by the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT) as the first of this kind in Kerala at Chooralmala in Wayanad. This is based in a tribal hamlet at Velappankandi in a Gram Panchayat and the project electrifies all the houses in the settlement. The cost of the project is about Rs 28 lakh. This includes the cost for 10 Nos of 1.5 kW Power Plant each consisting of 1kW Solar + 500W Wind along with a battery bank of 7200 Wh. Also, the Internal wiring at all the houses and Supply of LED bulbs and baten, provision for fan, mobile charging and other plug sockets are also included. Each individual house is equipped with the above and no transmission lines are involved. The work was undertaken by M/s WindStream Energy Technologies India Pvt Ltd.

As per the reports, the project consists of hybrid solar and wind power plants and each of the installations has a capacity of 1.5 kW. The 10 houses that were constructed by the Kerala government as a part of a rehabilitation offer for the families that protested in the Muthanga land agitation are installed with the hybrid solar and wind energy plants over them by ANERT.

According to ANERT, each of the hybrid installations produces 1 KW of solar and 500 watts of wind on a daily basis besides providing a good amount of power for a 10-hour battery backup.

The agency also informs that the houses where the hybrid renewable installations are done are also provided with two LED lights and mobile phone charging facilities in each of the houses. The government believes that such decentralized hybrid solar and wind plants can help remote areas, forest dwellings and those living in adverse weather conditions.

It has also been reported that ANERT is looking to set up 40 similar projects in the tribal remote settlements that are yet to be electrified.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has notified the wind solar hybrid policy, providing a framework for promotion of large grid connected wind-solar PV hybrid projects for optimal and efficient utilization of transmission infrastructure and land, reducing the variability in renewable power generation and achieving better grid stability.

At the end of 2021, the MNRE had informed that in the previous year, projects worth 3.75 GW of hybrid solar and wind capacity have been awarded. It said that out of the total, about 200 MW of capacity is commissioned. In addition, hybrid solar and wind energy projects worth 1.7 GW are at various stages of bidding.