Mumbai, the city that never sleeps, is a bustling metropolis. The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) is responsible for the smooth running of key aspects of the city’s infrastructure like sewage lines, water supply system, roads, and garbage collection system. All this planning and execution is done at the MCGM Engineering Hub, Worli, which is home to chief engineers and senior executives of MCGM.
Challenge
Providing maximum working comfort to the staff who ensure such high levels of productivity on a regular basis is the top priority for the state-of-the-art facility. Ergo, it’s no surprise that electricity consumption at the building would run up to 2-3 lakh units every monthly, on average. This put a huge financial liability on the building maintenance department and added to MCGM’s overall carbon footprint.
Our Solution
VEMC’s undertaking of this massive project included the construction of a renewable energy system to produce onsite electricity. The idea was to set up a 360 kW solar plant and include a solar net metering connection with the support of BEST Undertaking. Prior to execution, VEMC created a detailed pre-feasibility study to ensure the viability of installing a rooftop solar project for a 25-year operational period. Everything from civil and structural stability to financial savings were explored in the study. Finally, detailed electrical single line diagrams (SLDs), shadow analysis reports, and structural design layouts for the solar modules were presented to the MCGM before proceeding to execution.
Execution
- Durability: To ensure a sturdy build, aluminium solar module mounting structures with 3-5 mm thick sections and 12-15 micron anodising, were crafted. Their durable and corrosion-resistant nature was perfect for the planned 25 years of the project. The plant was also designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 150 kmph and it has already been tested against two cyclones, with the speed of approximately 114 kmph, indicating that our design was accurate.
- Solar modules: With high efficiency and cost savings being major considerations, polycrystalline cells were chosen for the solar modules. As many as 1,075 modules were procured from reputed Indian manufacturers.
- Cables: On the direct current (DC) side, tinned copper cables were used for their resistance to UV and direct sunlight exposure. And for the alternating current (AC) side, armoured type cables were used to provide sufficient mechanical protection when hung or routed through their pathways. Module interconnection cables housed inside cable trays were installed on the roof with optimum clearance from the rooftop to avoid corrosion.
- Earthing: While early streamer emission (ESE) lightning arrestors were used, 10-feet deep chemical earthing pits were created for any possible current leakage in the system. This earthing system is completely maintenance-free and has a minimum lifetime of 10-15 years.
- Inverters: High-quality inverters from top brands were procured. Not only did they offer 5-year warranties, but they were also tested for IP65 protection and outdoor duty operation in the sun. All the inverters used abide by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards required by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, and have surge protection devices (SPDs) and built-in fuse boxes.
- Control panel: All the low tension alternating current distribution board (LT ACDB) panels provided were Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) approved, and had copper busbars, appropriate switch gears, quality enclosures, and detailed designs. This meant ample protection for the solar plant and other equipment on the site. Moreover, the LT panels used had in-built multi-function meters to record data like energy generated, current, and voltage.
Impact
The benefits include:
- An estimated generation capacity of 4.87 lakh units or 500400 kWh annually.
- An estimated reduction in CO2 emissions by 412 metric tonnes annually and 8250 tonnes over the entire lifespan of its operation.
- A 500.4 ton reduction in the building’s carbon footprint.
VEMC, a 72-years young organisation, is a pioneer in the field of electromechanical engineering products, allied equipment’s, and services. Leveraging the decades of experience, VEMCO Solar (Check out our solar story), was able to successfully execute the MCGM project and deliver results. VEMCO Solar is a market leader in solar solutions — be it solar plant erection, procurement, commissioning, net metering, or electrical connections. If you have any requirement, please feel free to contact us on +91 98199 07445. We would be glad to assist you.