Close to 15 % of weaving units that have automatic or semi-automatic machines in Coimbatore region have installed rooftop solar panels in the last two to three years.
Govindaraj of the Shuttleless Loom Cloth Manufacturers Association told The Hindu on Wednesday that a weaving shed with 12 to 15 looms had a connected load of almost 112 KW. The power cost for such a weaving shed would be nearly ₹9 a unit.
Before the revision in power tariff, the High Tension electricity consumers paid 0.75 paisa to ₹1 more for a unit of power compared with a Low Tension Current Transformer (LT CT) consumer. However, now, the tariff was almost the same for industries with HT and LT CT power connection. Hence, the smaller units (those with LT CT connection) were losing their competitiveness. The bigger units were able to go in for third party purchase of power.
Hence, in the last two to three years, the weaving units with LT CT connection were investing in rooftop solar energy panels. “The panel cost has come down. We are permitted to install rooftop solar only for 80 % of the connected load. We will realise the invested amount in four years,” he said.
The weaving units were able to get one-fourth of the annual power requirement from the solar energy panels. This gave them a cost advantage. They exported the excess solar energy generated and were paid ₹2.1 a unit. However, the network charges would be deducted from this.
“If the Tamil Nadu government removes the network charges, more units will invest in solar energy and their cost competitiveness will improve,” he said.
The powerloom units with the conventional looms got 1,000 units free power. They required financial resources to instal in rooftop solar panels and hence were seeking support from the government, Mr. Govindaraj said.
