Anert to launch e-marketplace

In a fresh move to promote renewable energy (RE) technologies in the State, the Agency for Non-conventional Energy and Rural Technology (Anert) is preparing to launch an e-marketplace for renewable energy systems and devices.

The new facility will be designed to provide details of various renewable energy equipment online. Potential customers can register online, compare the equipment and place orders for systems and devices.

The e-marketplace will be linked to a portal for programme management which will maintain a list of installations of RE systems and empanelled vendors of Anert. It will also facilitate online approval of connectivity and energisation by the Kerala State Electricity Board and the Electrical Inspectorate, a project official said.

Simultaneously, the agency is gearing up to leverage the advantages of information technology using smartphone platforms. It has taken up a project to create a mobile application for the registration of RE systems. Named Souraveedhi, the app will enable users to register an RE system or device with geotag details and avail of insurance. It will be available on Android and IoS platforms.

Another app

Another app named M-Anert will enable empanelled vendors to check the feasibility of installing an RE system such as rooftop solar power plant, solar water heater or biogas plant on receiving an order from a customer through the e-marketplace. Vendors can also use the system to submit installation reports.

Anert is planning to have a network of 140 Akshaya Urja service centres across the State to provide support and maintenance services for RE installations. The service centres would be linked to the portal and the Souraveedhi app.

Meanwhile, work on the solar-wind-storage hybrid project at Ramakkalmedu in Idukki is proceeding according to schedule. Anert officials said a 3-MW plant would be commissioned this year in the first phase of the project taken up in collaboration with C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram, and the National Institute of Wind Energy, Chennai.

The two-day Kerala Renewable Energy Congress to be organised by Anert and the Centre for Environment and Development here from Monday will focus on technological innovations in tapping RE sources like solar, wind and biofuels. It will also highlight the latest advances in storage systems, smart grids and metering for RE systems and rural clean energy solutions.