Punjab Focusses To Boost Solar Energy By Expanding Solar Trees

Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has now planned to boost the deployment of solar energy in the state through innovative means. In its latest endevour in this direction, the state nodal renewable agency has planned to boost the presence of solar trees. Solar trees are an innovative way to increase the size of a solar plant in a small area which faces scarcity of land. 

PEDA recently issued a tender especially for boosting solar trees in Punjab. The tender includes, design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of these plant. This also included a warranty and a 5-year Annual Maintenance contract (AMC) contract for these Solar Trees.

As per the issued tender, these solar plants need to ensure a minimum capacity of at least 3 kW. The PEDA tender also said that these solar trees need to have solar module mounting structure of minimum 09 feet from ground and having 6 leaves/panels. 

The tender document mentions, the invitation for bids is open to all eligible Manufacturers, (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) EPC companies, suppliers & system integrators. However, bidders should have sufficient experience of design, manufacturing, supplying, installing, commissioning and maintaining at least SPV Power Plants of aggregate capacity 100 KWp in the last three years. In June, Punjab government commissioned seven solar trees of 5 kW (total capacity of 35 kW) at different locations of Patiala.

Earlier, in a bid to promote the usage of solar energy, the Council For Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)’s Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) had developed the world’s ‘largest solar tree’ with 160 PV panels with a rating of 335 W each.

The Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) is the apex R&D institute for mechanical engineering under the aegis of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The Odisha government has also installed solar trees in the temple down to boost the production of renewable energy. Konark is one of India’s proposed solar city which has seen increased adoption of solar power for its power needs.