RU solar panels help meet demand, contribute to national grid

RAJSHAHI UNIVERSITY, Nov 25: Aiming for uninterrupted power supply and save power, Rajshahi University (RU) authority installed solar power panels at the campus last year.

Each panel is generating about 300 watts of electricity at the power plant while this electricity connected to the PDB (Power Development Board) line directly.

Sources said these solar panels primarily installed on the rooftops of two administrative buildings and Vice Chancellor's resident building under an agreement with Electronic Solar Power Company Limited after the open tender process while the company completed the installation work with Tk 2.92 million.

Moreover, the government allocated Tk 8.0 million. After installation of the panel, load shedding or power shortage on the campus has become a thing of the past, as the panel is capable to produce electricity for twenty years.

Earlier, the RU authority signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Electronic Solar Power Company Limited in January last year to implement the project. Under the project, solar panels will be installed on rooftops of all other buildings of the university.

Engr Obaidul Islam, an official of RU Engineering section said oil and gas pollute environment. That's why university authority installed such solar power which led to the decrease in the use of oil and gas.

Besides, this panel will be able to contribute about 43-kilo watts power in the national grid, he also added.

Pro-VC Prof. Chowdhury Mohammed Zakaria said that we should put emphasis on enriching renewable energy sources instead of depending on fossil fuel to face energy challenges.

As part of overall infrastructure development inside the campus university authority installed this plant under a four- year master plan which estimated cost of around Tk 3.63 billion while ECNEC (Executive Committee of National Economic Council) has already approved the required fund last year, he added.

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