Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa government has a major challenge of generating 150 MW of grid-connected solar power capacity by 2022, of which it has to produce at least one MW by the end of the current financial year, under the National Solar Mission launched by the Union Ministry for New and Renewable Energy.
On a pilot basis, the government will be directing all departments to install solar power rooftop systems, which will be followed by drafting of comprehensive State Solar Rooftop policy.
This was announced by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for Goa and Union Territory chairman S K Chaturvedi on Wednesday.
During the public hearing called for approval of the Electricity Department’s business plan for 2016-17 to 2018-19, Chaturvedi said that the failure of the government to fulfill the target of one MW of solar power generation by end of March 2016, would force JERC to impose heavy penalty, as the target will not be postponed.
Chaturvedi said he has held detailed discussions with the State Chief Secretary on the matter and directions are being issued to prepare a road map for execution of solar power generation – pollution free and environment friendly in the State.
He said that the Union government has set a target of 40,000 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar power generation capacity by 2022 under the National Solar Mission. “For Goa, by 2022 it has to generate 150 MW of solar power. If the renewable purchase obligation (RPOs) of the State goes up from 5 percent to 10.5 percent by 2022, then the State will have to generate 300MW of solar power,” the JERC said in its presentation.
Just 10 sq mts of land are required for one KW of solar power plant. “The State government is very positive with regards to solar power. On a pilot basis, they have decided to hold a meeting with Public Works Department (PWD) officials, wherein directions would be issued to install solar panels on government buildings,” Chaturvedi said.
New and Renewable Energy Ministry, through a communication has urged all central ministries, States, public sector organisations, educational institutions, schools and colleges, to install grid connected solar rooftop systems/projects in their buildings. Rooftop solar system can help reduce electricity bills besides cutting down carbon emissions from conventional sources like coal.
The government is providing financial assistance of 15 per cent of the benchmark cost for installation of grid-connected rooftop solar system/project on four categories of buildings – residential, institutional, government and social sector.
