The newly opened retail outlet of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) here is showing the way to other such outlets in tapping solar energy as an alternative to power sourced from conventional generators at high costs.
Its dealer Valluri Koteswara Rao and his son Yugandhar, who is an engineering graduate, were keen on harnessing solar energy from the beginning and wasted no time in giving shape to their idea. They got a 2 kW solar power unit, comprising eight panels of photovoltaic modules, installed at a total cost of Rs. 3.50 lakh and started operating the diesel pump. Plans are afoot to supply solar energy to the petrol pump too in due course of time.