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Farooq Abdullah inaugurates world's largest
solar steam system in Shirdi

      Shirdi: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah on Thursday inaugurated the world's largest solar steam system installed at Sri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi. The solar system has been designed for cooking food for devotees visiting the Sansthan. The total cost of the solar steam system is estimated at Rs. 133.00 lakhs for which a subsidy of Rs. 58.40 lakhs has been provided by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The solar system enables the Sansthan to cook food for 20,000 people a day, resulting in a huge annual savings of one lakh kg of LPG translating to nearly Rs.20,00,000 per year. The system has been installed within a record time of ten months. The Shirdi system generates about 3500 kg of steam every day, which is sufficient to cook food for about 20,000 people. The system has been designed in such a way that it will generate steam for cooking even in the absence of electricity to run the feed water pump for circulating water in the system. To promote such systems in the country, a scheme is in promotion through the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy which provides support upto 50 per cent of the cost of systems to non-profit making bodies and up to 35 per cent to profit making bodies availing depreciation benefits. Over 40 systems covering a dish area of about 12,000 square metre have been supported by the Ministry so far for various applications, though the major application is cooking only. Other applications include process heat in industries and laundry, sterilization and air conditioning.
-July 30, 2009