Lok Sabha Question No. 4047 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Solar Power Tree
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: J. JAYASINGH THIYAGARAJ NATTERJEE, R. PARTHIPAN, ASADUDDIN OWAISI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4047 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2016)

## SOLAR POWER TREE

## 4047.  SHRI J.J.T. NATTERJEE:

SHRI R. PARTHIPAN:

SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has developed 'Solar Power Tree', an innovative way to generate electricity by harnessing maximum solar energy in a limited space;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the manner in which the solar energy is used for producing electricity;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to introduce it in all Government institutions and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the total solar energy likely to be generated by a solar power tree and the cost involved in its installation along with the number of companies that have been given licence of this technology; and
- (e) to what extent this innovation is likely to increase solar power in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES

## (SHRI Y.S. CHOWDARY)

- (a) Yes, Madam. The technology consists of innovative design for mounting solar panels  over  a  single  structure,  which  captures  solar  energy  for  downstream utility.  The  design  is  registered  at  The  Patent  Office,  GOI  with  Design  No. 251575  dated  11.02.2013  assigned  to  Council  of  Scientific  and  Industrial Research (CSIR), Rafi Marg, New Delhi-110001.

The  salient  feature  of  the  Solar  Power  Tree  involves  creation  of  minimal footprint,  whereby  substantial  saving  in  space  can  be  brought  about.  In contrast, the normal deployment of solar panels requires significant space.

- (b) The structure  is  decorated  with  an  array  of  metallic  branches  holding commercially available Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) panels. Photovoltaics involve direct conversion of light into electricity. Some materials exhibit the property of absorbing photons and in turn releasing electrons also known as the photoelectric effect. On capture of these free electrons, DC electric current is produced. The generated DC current is converted to  AC  using  solar  inverter.  For  backup  at  night,  battery  can  be  used  as  per  the requirement of the consumer.
- For Solar Power Tree developed at CSIR-CMERI, the land space requirement is only 4 sq. ft. for generation of 5 kW electricity. The conventional solar power plant  of  the  same  capacity  would  require  400  Sq.  ft.  of  land.  Moreover,  the occupied land in conventional solar plant is not reusable for other purposes.
- (c) The prototype of solar power tree has been successfully demonstrated in public. As a result,  CSIR-CMERI  has  received  a  number  of  queries  from  different  parts  of  the country for installation of this 'make-in-India' technology. An attempt is being made to improve upon the landscape aesthetics of individual institutions using solar tree.

It  is  expected  that  with  promotional  schemes,  all  Government  installations would benefit from the development. This is likely to result in sufficient savings in the utility bills of the institutions.

- (d) CSIR-CMERI has developed Solar Power Trees of 1, 2.4, 3 and 5 kW capacities. The cost of solar power tree, including its installation, varies from INR 1-1.5 lakhs per kW depending upon the design of solar tree. For a 5 kW normal design of solar power tree, the cost is INR 5 Lakhs including 3 hrs battery backup, while with improved aesthetic design, its cost would be INR 7.5 Lakhs. M/s. Vibes Solar Solution LLP, Kolkata has been given licence for the technology.
- (e) The government is giving major thrust to solar energy utilization. As the Solar Power Tree  occupies almost 1% of land surface as compared to conventional solar plants, electricity generation in urban areas, hilly areas, islands like A&N, Lakshadweep etc. will be easier with least foot prints. The major advantage of this innovation is that the land under the tree area can be reused either for car parking, gardening or for other purposes. In rural area, agricultural land can be simultaneously used for solar power generation.

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