PANJIM: Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar on Sunday said the government will notify its Solar Power Policy within this week which aims to generate 150 MW of power by the year 2022.
“The Solar Power Policy is almost finalised and will be notified this week. Currently the file has gone to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for his signatures and approval,” said Madkaikar speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a government function
“Though the solar power policy was kept open for suggestion, no major changes have been done but there were few suggestions made which the authorities have integrated into the policy,” he informed.
However, the draft Solar Power Policy prepared by the State-run Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA), was approved by State cabinet in July this year was kept open for suggestions and objections from the public and stakeholders till July 14.
Under the policy, the State government aims to provide 150 MW of solar power to the grid by 2022, as per the draft available on the website of GEDA.
Since Goa is eco-sensitive, thermal energy generation is not possible. Thus, Goa has to entirely depend on the thermal energy from other states, says the draft.
“To attain self-reliance in power generation and to promote clean source of power generation, the solar policy is being adopted. This would result in reduction of carbon emissions,” the draft policy states.
The draft further reads that “Goa is richly endowed with moderate climate and bright sunshine for almost 8-9 months in a year for generating solar power.”
Meanwhile, the challenge before the State government is not only to meet the ever-growing demand for power, but also to progressively increase the share of renewable sources, so as to achieve an overall energy security.
