Solar Power to Supply Water in Hyderabad

The board plans to set up solar power plants on the surface of reservoirs, save electricity bills that run into anything between Rs 80 crore to Rs 90 crore a month.

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The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewage Board (HMWS&SB) is planning to supply water to its consumers using solar power. As the board looks to phase out usage of electricity from conventional energy sources.

The water board has been using electricity from conventional sources for lifting, pumping, and distribution of water from off-take points of different drinking water reservoirs for well over three decades and now plans to set up solar power plants on the surface of reservoirs, save electricity bills that run into anything between Rs 80 crore to Rs 90 crore a month.

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The bills go up to Rs 95 crore to Rs 100 crore when the water level at reservoirs goes down, and the board has to use ‘emergency pumps’ at off-take points.

The department has received a detailed project report on the solar power project and will now approach the Telangana State Renewable Development Corporation (TSREDCO) to implement the project. 

“The cost of the solar project could be around Rs 500 crore, and the water board does not have funds for it. According to our plan, the responsibility to float tenders and implementing the project will have to be carried out by the TSREDCO. In another week, the water board will discuss the plan with TSREDCO,” an HMWS&SB official told TOI.

The board has identified 50 reservoirs and pumping stations in around the city where solar panels could be installed.

Source: TNN