ABB to install solar-based microgrid at Vadodara facility.

Power and automation technology firm ABB India recently announced that it will install a fully integrated and standardised microgrid at its Vadodara facility in Gujarat to boost renewable energy generation while reducing dependency on fossil fuel.

“This microgrid, with a rooftop photo voltaic field at the company’s biggest manufacturing location in India with around 3,000 employees, will help ensure uninterrupted power supply,” the company said in a statement.

Microgrids are considered a viable and cost-efficient solution to not only improve access to electricity, but also to address other pressing issues related to energy supply, including growing demand, climate change, energy security and reliability for both industries and villages.

ABB’s containerised microgrid installation at Vadodara includes a 600-kW rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) field and a power store battery grid stabilising system together with a Microgrid Plus dedicated control system, to help maximize the use of solar energy.

A cloud-based remote service system will be deployed for operations and maintenance of the microgrid in keeping with ABB’s Internet of Things, Services and People (IoTSP) approach.

Vadodara is ABB’s largest facility in India and manufactures critical power equipment like transformers, high voltage products, distribution relays, primary gas-insulated switchgear, motors, generators and turbochargers for a variety of national projects.

HBL