Why in news?

In a significant step towards promoting clean energy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared Modhera, a village in the Mehsana district of Gujarat as India’s first solar-powered village

Highlights:

• More than thousand solar panels with 1kW capacity are also installed on the homes in this village, enabling its residents to receive cost-free solar energy 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
• All these solar systems are connected to the battery energy storage system (BESS) – the country’s first grid-connected megawatt hour scale battery energy storage system.
• During the day time, the solar panels will provide power to the village and in the evening, the houses will be powered by the BESS.
• The project was implemented in two phases, with state allocating 12 hectares of land for its implementation. Both the central and state governments have invested around Rs.80 crore for this project.
• It will enable people to save 60 to 100 per cent on the electricity bills.

What you need to know about Modhera?

• Modhera is famous for its Sun temple, which is situated on the river Pushpavati. It was built by King Bhima-I of the Chaulukya dynasty in 1026-27.
• According to the Gujarat government, over 1000 solar panels have been installed on the village houses, generating electricity round the clock for the villagers. Significantly they will be provided with solar electricity at zero cost.