Hyderabad Water Board adopts solar power initiative

With approval from the state government, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewage Board (HMWS&SB) are all set to implement a 31.12 MW Solar Power Roof Top Power Plants initiative. This collaboration involves close coordination between the Water Board and the Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation (TSREDCO). Their joint efforts will lead to the installation of solar equipment at various locations, such as water reservoirs, pump houses, sewage treatment plants (STPs), and water treatment plants (WTPs). Remarkably, this endeavour requires no upfront capital investment from the HMWS&SB.A total of 72 sites owned by HMWS&SB, including 45 STPs and pump houses, will host these solar panels. Playing a pivotal role in this scheme, TSREDCO has been designated as the nodal cum implementing agency for the state under the Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) program. The project has also gained momentum as the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), an agency authorised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), has expressed its willingness to oversee the implementation of the 31.12 MW solar rooftop power plants. Their commitment extends to supplying power for a span of 25 years.The current scenario sees HMWS&SB incurring electricity charges from DISCOM at various levels, namely Rs 6.65/unit at LT level and 11 kV level, Rs 6.15 at 33 kV level, and Rs 5.65/unit at 132 kV level. However, the new proposal entails a rate of Rs 3.50 per unit over a 25-year period through the CPSU initiative. This shift could translate to substantial savings, approximately amounting to Rs 105.7 million annually. These savings derive from the difference between the proposed rate and the current DISCOM tariff of Rs 5.65/unit, which HMWS&SB is currently paying.