Southern India’s Anantapur District will be the first municipality in the country to use solar energy for street lighting and water pumping operations. The solar project, consisting of nearly 40,000 solar panels , will be connected to the existing power grid and will save $1 million every year, according to the municipal authorities.

The solar project will be constructed under India’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM). Located in Kadiri area of Anantapur District spread over 10,000 acres of barren land, the 5-megawatt solar installation is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 180,000 tons during its 25-year life span. The Anantapur solar project will also be the first project in the state to use Abound Solar Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) thin-film modules which are among the lowest-cost types of solar cells.

Energy generated from nearly 40,000 solar panels  will result in over $1 million in savings. The project will cost about $11 million, and those costs are expected to be recovered in 11 years. The district authorities are hoping to get financial support from the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy and use the savings to repay the loan.

Via CleanTechnica

Photos from Wikimedia Commons

source: http://www.inhabitat.com / Home> News> Renewable Energy> Solar power / by Lidija Grozdanic / January 26th, 2013