Team Herald
PANJIM: Taking a lead towards harnessing alternative sources of energy to meet the State’s power requirement, Raj Bhavan has installed a grid-connected rooftop solar power plant.
A 30KW capacity power plant was inaugurated by Governor Dr Mridula Sinha on Wednesday. Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) is the nodal agency for bringing in solar power revolution in the State.
Speaking after inaugurating the plant the Governor said that solar power is environment friendly. “Having technical collaboration with GEDA will go a long way in motivating other parts of the state to replicate such projects to generate clean and green energy,” she said.
The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC), last year had directed State government to generate 150MW of grid connected solar power capacity by 2022 under the National Solar Mission launched by the Union Ministry for New and Renewable Energy. The State was asked to draft a comprehensive Solar Rooftop Policy, which is yet to take shape.
New and Renewable Energy Ministry 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, which can help reduce electricity bills besides cutting down carbon emissions.
The Central government is providing financial assistance of 15 percent of the benchmark cost for installation of grid-connected rooftop solar system/project on four categories of buildings – residential, institutional, government and social sector.
