Su-Kam transforms parking lot & terrace with solar panels
Did you ever think of generating energy for your home and office from a small portion of your terrace or your car parking space? Does it sound like a green-energy fairy tale?
Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd. has made this fairy tale a reality. Believing in “innovations and experiments begin at home”, Su-Kam has started generating solar energy innovatively for its office use.
A portion of its office terrace at Gurgaon and its parking lot have been covered with solar panels that feed power back into its internal grid, which is being used to run lights, computers in the office and reduce the electricity bill and diesel consumption through DG set.
“We have set an example to show that you can generate your own clean and pure energy in innovative ways. It’s an interesting concept—you can cover your small parking lot or a portion of your terrace or garden, with solar panels, and see how much you save on energy and reduce your electricity bill,” says Kunwer Sachdev, Managing Director, Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd.
Energy-generating parking lot
Su-Kam has covered its parking lot, an area of 48 sq m, innovatively with 30 polycrystalline solar panels of 7.5kW. A total of 7.5kW consisting of 250Wp of solar panels generate about 30 units of energy on a sunny day, which saves about Rs 10,800 per month on electricity bill and diesel consumption through DG set.
This whole system is not only innovative but also unique. Since the solar panels stand on an elevated structure, it does not occupy any ground space, and hence no civil work is needed on government area. Moreover, the cars are parked in a cool place under the shade of the solar panels.
Solar panels on terrace
Su-Kam has also covered 96 sq m of its terrace with 60 polycrystalline solar panels of 15kW. A total of 15kW consisting of 250Wp of solar panels generate about 60 units of energy on a sunny day, which amounts to a saving of Rs 21,600 on month electricity bill. Moreover, the shade of the solar panel erected on an elevated structure, is excellent for a terrace garden.
Su-Kam has also lined the rooftop of its R&D centre, an area of 128 sq m, with 80 polycrystalline solar panels of 20kW. These solar panels generate about 80 units of energy, and saves Rs 28,800 per month on electricity bill and diesel consumption through DG set.
Each of these systems is connected with a Su-Kam-made Grid Tie inverter to convert DC power into AC power. An AC power distribution box is also connected to the system to take the AC power to the internal grid of the office.
These systems are grid tie systems with no battery attached for power backup. Systems without battery backup are simpler to design and cost less—it saves about 40% cost. However, on weekends and holidays, when the office remains closed and there is no load, the system switches off automatically so that no power goes waste.
