Foundation stone for PAN-IIT Solar Thermal Proj next week

CHENNAI, Feb 15: The foundation stone for the ‘prestigious’ PAN-IIT Solar Thermal Project involving various Indian Institutes of Technology across the country will be laid near here next week.

The Rs 15-crore project is a research effort in which IITs together contribute towards establishment of a pilot solar thermal power generation system and funding to the tune of about Rs 15 crore will be provided by the Government of India through Department of Science and Technology (DST).

“Three major projects have been envisaged under this effort – namely establishment of a direct steam generation based solar thermal power plant, Liquid Dessicant based Solar Air Conditioning System and a Thermal Storage system,” B Nagarajan, Deputy Registrar (Training, Placement and Public Relations), IIT-Madras said.

The project on solar thermal power plant with direct steam generation is being coordinated by IIT Madras and IIT Roorkee, he said in a release here.

Liquid desiccant based AC system and that on storage of solar thermal energy using phase change materials and other sensible storage systems will be coordinated by IIT Bombay and IIT Guwahati, respectively, he added.

“All three projects will be integrated in a pilot solar thermal plant located at the Pathashaala, Vallipuram (Kanchipuram District), Tamil Nadu,” he said,adding foundation stone for this ‘prestigious’ project will be laid on February 17,2013 DST Secretary T Ramasami. (PTI)