Solar power generation in tea fields

Why are tea estates experimenting with solar power?

Buoyed by India’s intent to achieve 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030, tea estates in northeast India are experimenting with solar power to cut costs and maintain production, amid challenges with the delivery of fossil fuel-based grid electricity.

Do solar panels help tea plants grow?

All the tea gardens in the survey agreed that the installation of large solar panels within the garden would not impact the growth of tea plants. The study also revealed that tea estates preferred to adopt solar among the alternative energy sources.

Is solar PV a good alternative energy source for tea manufacturing industry?

From Fig. 15, it is clear that Munnar has a good potential of solar irradiance (above 600 W/m 2) during the solar noon in all months. So, the deployment of Solar PV in Munnar could be a good alternative energy source for grid electricity in tea manufacturing industry. Fig. 14.

How does solar PV work in tea plant?

The Solar PV panels are mounted above the tea shrubs and it does not affect the growth of tea and make effective use of land. This plant consists of 197,800 dual glass solar PV modules and the annual production is estimated as 80,000 MWh. Also, it mitigates the emission of 80,000 tonnes of CO 2 into the atmosphere [ 27 ].

Why do tea estates in Assam use solar?

Many tea estate gardens in Assam have set up solar installations to reduce costs, maintain a reliable electricity supply, and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Sunil Mohta of Kalinagar tea estate in southern Assam is satisfied after investing Rs. 40 lakhs (Rs. 4 million) in a 100 kilowatts peak (kWp) solar plant.

Could evacuated tube solar collectors help the tea industry?

From the estimation of bioenergy waste from industry and garden, it could able to supplement up to 83% of the thermal energy requirement in the tea industry. Evacuated tube solar collectors could able to supply hot air in the temperature range of 90 °C to 160 °C to meet the energy demand of drying and withering processes.