Panjim: The consumers and producers of solar power will avail benefit in form of 50 percent subsidy from the State government as per the amended Goa State Solar Energy Policy 2017, which was notified on Thursday. More so, power producers failing to complete and commission their project within the stipulated timeframe would be entitled for penalty equal to 5 percent of value of energy committed for every day of delay.
Goa State Solar Policy-2017 with amendments is approved by the State government and is been put into force. Government is looking at tapping of the solar energy to meet the ever-growing demand for power.
“Technological improvements have now made generation of solar energy economically viable and would lead to reduction in expenditure of the State for purchase of Conventional Power from the Grid,” the policy document stated. Initially, the policy had proposed interest-free loan to the prosumer (consumers and producers of solar power).
Now, as per the amendment, State Government shall provide subsidy of 50% (Central share 30% and State share 20%) of the capital cost or the benchmark cost provided by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) or cost arrived through tendering process by Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) whichever is lower to all the Prosumers.
The central share will be credited to the Prosumer as per the guidelines of MNRE. The State subsidy shall be released upon completion of 06 months of the solar power being injected into the grid. For all Prosumers, Main Tariff Meter (Bi-directional) and Solar Generation Meter will be installed by State Electricity department and rented to the Prosumers by payment on monthly fees to the department. The Check Tariff Meter (Bi-directional) will have to be installed by Prosumer.
Every Prosumer/Producer in the State will have to enter in Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the department for the period of 25 years and the tariff will remain fixed for the period of five years. Subsequently same will be reviewed every five years.
The time limit fixed for the setting up of 100kW – 1MW is within 240 Days while 1MW – and above is one year. For delay upto first 12 months, the bidders shall pay penalty equal to 5% of value of energy committed for every day of delay. State he Government will provide requisite clearances for the project through a “Single Window Clearance Mechanism”, operated through GEDA.
