Planning of solar steam cooking system at SMVDU

This paper presents the planning of the potential and feasibility of a complete Solar Solution for the mess at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) campus. Since there is ample space near the mess, solar steam generating plants are proposed on the mess to reduce Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) consumption substantially. A total of forty concentrators (sixteen square meters each) are proposed to be installed. The project's life is proposed to be twenty-five years with a capital cost of $19.02 Thousand and additional operation and maintenance costs. The financial analysis shows that the total savings from the project are $172.82 Thousand with a Cost-benefit Ratio of 6.40. The project's break even is approximated to be attained by the fortieth month of operation. Beyond the financial benefit, the project is proposed to have multiple other benefits to the institution. The benefits are that the use of fossil fuels (LPG) for cooking can be avoided by the installation of a thermal cooking system, it shall provide a better sustainability score in various rankings done worldwide for the university, the cost of tender of mess for future can be reduced drastically, the project will be brought up as a project that shall be displayed at every level in the Union Territory so that we shall promote the development of renewable energy uses.