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Solar energy system on Sathyabama campus
The world’s largest Solar Parabolic Concentrated Technology Systems manufactured and commissioned by Gadhia Solar was inaugurated at Sathyabama University on July 1. Sathyabama University reached out to Gadhia Solar requesting them to install the largest solar system in their campus. Having equipped themselves with the space and funds for the installation, they are the first university in Chennai to gain this worl
d’s largest technology. After five years of work and seven months of installation period, it was a great day for the university as well as Gadhia Solar. Avinashilingam University for Women, Coimbatore, is the first college in Tamil Nadu to have set up the solar systems. “I chose to install this project at Sathyabama University because we have a very huge population of students and by installing this we can save a lot of energy and fuel, fast depleting in today’s world. Food for nearly 30,000 can be served through this and we can cut down on our LPG cost where we pay out nearly 30 lakh a year, and at the same time also be environment-friendly,” said Jeppiaar, founder of Sathyabama University. Students of various departments along with Sundarajan, Head of the Chemical Department, would now be functioning on a new project to bring a storage system where solar energy could be stored and used during rainy and non-sunny days, he said. A final-year student, Ashik Ali, said, “Our new project on the storage system is scheduled to be accomplished within two years. And it is really an honour to be a part of the research and development team in the university. We can do a lot of research and reach great heights.” Arun Kumar, final-year student, Chemical Department, said, “We are indeed happy with the inauguration of this technology at our campus because we can now do more research and try to bring more good with this.” Gadhia Solar Concentrated Thermal Systems have become very popular as it gives the fastest payback. By installing about Rs.110 lakh on this enormous project at the university they will recover their expenditure on this solar system in three years. “We encourage all the companies and universities to adopt this technique because it will save a lot of conventional energy. This is a very big asset for the students of Sathyabama University as they have the exposure to the world’s best technology and they can now further work on research and development in bringing about more advancement in these solar energy systems. They can save so much of LPG and have a green atmosphere and a clean kitchen,” says Deepak Gadhia, chairman of Gadhia Solar. The Gujarat-based Gadhia Solar has broken its own world record in laying down the world’s largest solar energy system. This system encompasses 110 dishes and has the capacity to prepare about 30,000 meals a day. Their earlier record was the largest solar steam cooking system with 106 dishes, installed at the Tirupati temple. Badal Shah, MD, Gadhia Solar, said, “I’m really thankful to the Chancellor of Satyabama University for giving us this great opportunity of setting up the world’s largest technology here and also giving us a chance to break our own record.” The solar cells at the Sathyabama University have been designed in a way that they can be used in preparing lunch and dinner. Breakfast preparation may not be possible with it now, but the research and development team may work on it. Its main purpose is to serve the students with food and also hot water for the hostel students. It can store energy up to 10 p.m. Sathyabama University and the Gadhia industry have proposed to sign an MoU on their upcoming project ‘Solar Thermal Storage’. This was sponsored by the Ministry of New & Renewable energy and Tamil Nadu Energy Development agency.
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ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY: Solar panels installed on the Sathyabama University campus.