A team of Indian technologists are working on developing hybrid solar solutions that is expected to bring down electricity costs significantly and help supply power without transmission lines.
Around 50 students drawn from various Indian Institutes of Technology have already had four-five brainstorming sessions in this regard, Secretary in the Department of Science and Technology, T Ramasami said in Bangalore.
In the present-day system, to generate one megawatt of power, one needs Rs 20 crore investment and even then the cost of delivered power is high.
"So, instead of looking at bringing it down in a short-term, we are looking at hybrid where you don't have to store electricity", Ramasami said.
"There are several places in the country which do not have transmission lines. So, (with these solar hybrid solutions) you don't have to synchronise power to power electronics and mount on it", he said, adding, the off-grid and mini-grid solutions would be helpful in areas without transmission lines.
Ramasami said the aim is to bring down the electricity cost to Rs nine per kilo watt hour (from the current level of Rs 20). "Rs nine is what it will cost for diesel power. So, they (the team members) are working on bringing it to that level".
Supported by the private sector industry and some other institutions, the hybrid solutions being developed are expected to be viable, he said, adding, the project is slated to be completed by May.
