World’s largest solar tree developed 

World’s largest solar tree developed 

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Renewable sources of Energy

In news

• Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CMERI) has developed the World’s Largest Solar Tree.
• It is installed at CSIR-CMERI Residential Colony, Durgapur, West Bengal.

Key takeaways

• The installed capacity of the Solar Tree is above 11.5 kilowatts peak (kWp). 
• It has the annual capacity to generate 12,000-14,000 units of Clean and Green Power.
• There are a total of 35 Solar PV Panels in each tree with a capacity of 330 wp each.
• The inclination of the arms holding the Solar PV Panels are flexible and can be adjusted as per requirement.
• This feature is not available in Roof-Mounted Solar facilities.
• Each Solar Tree will cost Rs 7.5 lakhs.
• The interested MSMEs can align their Business Model with the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evem Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) Scheme for farmers, for developing a Renewable Energy based Energy Grid.

Important value additions

PM-KUSUM Scheme

• Ministry- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• The scheme aims to add solar and other renewable capacity of 25,750 MW by 2022.
• It provides for installation of solar pumps, grid connected renewable power plants and solarization of existing grid-connected agricultural pumps.

• The Scheme is being implemented through State Government Agencies.
• The PM KUSUM scheme has three components.

• Component-A- 10,000 megawatts (MW) of decentralised ground mounted grid-connected renewable power plants.
• Component-B- installation of 17.50 lakh standalone solar powered agriculture pumps and
• Component-C- solarisation of 10 lakh grid-connected solar powered agriculture pumps.

Do you know?

• The Component-A and Component-C will be implemented on pilot mode for 1000 MW capacity and one lakh grid connected agriculture pumps respectively and thereafter, will be scale-up on success of pilot run.
• Component-B will be implemented in full-fledged manner.