NTPC Dadri installed Robotic Dry Cleaning System (RDCS) for the solar panels at its solar PV plant in Dadri on Thursday. This is a first of its kind in India which uses robotic method of cleaning solar panels said D K Sood, regional executive director NTPC Dadri, Badarpur and Faridabad (DBF).
Built at a cost of Rs 76 lakhs, the design of RDCS is from an Israel based company – Ecoppia. Most of RDCS parts are manufactured in Chennai and other parts India.
Sood who inaugurated the RDCS on Thursday maintained that “apart from being first of its kind in India, RDCS is wireless operated, self-powered, energy independent and self-cleaned as no man power is required to clean the solar panels because robo operation with seasonal tilt is used for the same,” said Sood.
Further, RDCS conserves water and reduces power generation loss due to soiling to the extent of 3-4 percent. Suitable for remote solar sites, the RDCS is remote monitored and managed said Sood.
Others present at the inauguration include A K Jha, director (technical), NTPC Limited and S K Sinha, GGM (Dadri) along with other senior officials of NTPC.
Total installed capacity of NTPC (this is all India) has become 48143 MW with the addition of 115 MW of Bhadla Solar Power Project commissioned Wednesday (Feb 22, 2017) taking up NTPC’s solar capacity to 475 MW. NTPC contributes nearly 24 of percent country’s generation and is committed to setting up 10000 MW of renewable energy projects by year 2022.
By Baishakhi Dutta