Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh State Council for Science and Technology has bagged the prestigious SKOCH Silver Award under State Governance Category-2022 for its innovative “Demonstration of Geothermal-Based Heating and Cooling System Integrated with Solar Power” project at the community health centre (CHC) in Kimin.
The project was supported by the central department of science and technology and implemented in technical collaboration with The Energy Research Institute (TERI).
The main objective behind the implementation of this project was to demonstrate an energy-efficient and sustainable technology that can be replicated to address the issues and concerns of the state.
The other objectives included the introduction of innovative ideas accessible to the building sector, especially in high-altitude areas and the demonstration of a heating and cooling system (geothermal technology) integrated with renewable energy.
The technology, implemented to meet the energy requirement of the CHC at Kimin, was selected considering the rise in energy demand in the state’s housing sector, especially in high-altitude areas, where people depend on the burning of biomass resulting in the depletion of forest.
The system is an integration of three technologies – the geo-exchange system that utilises the earth as a heat source or sink, the geo-exchange heat pump machine to provide space cooling and heating, and a solar photovoltaic system to power the heat pump and system auxiliaries.
The unique integration of three different technologies is expected to create sustainable and efficient solutions for space conditioning in the state, utilise renewable energy resources and reduce carbon emissions through wood and biomass burning for heating applications.
Officials said the measurable benefits achieved by the project are improved sanitation, improved health of the beneficiaries and improved access to energy sources.
The project was also found to be 25-30% more energy efficient besides preventing water loss.
Instituted in 2003, the SKOCH Award is the highest civilian honor in the country conferred by an Independent Organisation, the SKOCH Group. It recognizes people, projects and institutions that go the extra mile to make India a better nation.
