OREANDA-NEWS. April 13, 2011. Sustainability is one of the key pillars of Tata Power, India's largest private power company. The company has envisaged an aggressive plan of generating 25,000MW by 2017 and intends to have a 20-per-cent contribution from the clean fuels ie, renewable fuels, primarily through a combination of hydro, solar, wind, geothermal and waste gas generation.

The company has already implemented a 3MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic power plant in the western ghats which will be the largest grid-connected solar plant in Maharashtra. This solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant is expected to be commissioned shortly.

The company recently signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam to develop a 25MW solar photovoltaic project at Mithapur in Gujarat, under the state’s Solar Power Policy 2009. This plant is likely to be one of the largest of its kind in India and is targeted for commissioning by December 2011.

The company’s strategy emphasises the development of clean energy generation from renewable sources to balance the carbon intensity from major coal-based capacity and to contribute towards energy security of the country, thereby reducing dependency on fossil fuels and reducing CO2 emissions.

The company has set its own goals to contribute to a greener and more sustainable future and has implemented several renewable energy projects, by harvesting solar energy which is available in plenty in India. Some of the key initiatives are:

Rooftop PV (60.48KWP): The sun is shining brightly on Tata Power’s Carnac Bunder’s roof top. A 60.48KWP solar power plant has been installed on the top of one of the buildings, at its office in Carnac Bunder. It was implemented in the month of December 2010 and is estimated to operate at a PLF of around 16 per cent. The power generated by these solar panels is expected to take the lighting load of one of the buildings.

CO2 saving per annum: 67 tonnes

Solar water heater (2,000 litres): The solar water heater is one of the efficient methods to capture the abundant solar energy available in India. In Tata Power, it has been adopted on a large scale and the same was demonstrated at its Dharavi receiving station canteen.

CO2 saving per annum: 6.5 tonnes

Solar-wind hybrid (3.02KW): Solar-wind hybrid is a technology which can be used for distributed generation where solar and wind energy is available. It is implemented in Tata Power’s Trombay Thermal Generating Station on top of the Station ‘B’ building. Solar and wind component in this system is 2.4KWP and 0.65KW. It generates 10-12 units per day.

CO2 saving per annum: 3 tonnes

Solar-based LED lighting (10 lamps): In Tata Power’s premises, solar-based LED lighting was used to illuminate the bust of JRD Tata in the open gardens, by replacing 150W HPSV lamps. Ten such HPSV lamps were replaced by a set of three efficient 5W solar-based LED lights.

CO2 saving per annum: 3 tonnes

Solar street lights (5 in number): In Tata Power’s Jojobera Thermal Power Station, five places with insufficient lighting were lit up using solar energy.

CO2 saving per annum: 1.5 tonnes

Sustainability can be achieved at an organisational level by the acts and deeds of every individual, cumulating at divisional levels and then at the organisational level.