Punjab is all set for major revolution in Renewable Energy sector with path breaking initiatives in the form of large scale investment in Solar Power projects, unique net metering policy and farm level solar power projects thereby ensuring the wider participation of investors, common people and farmers, this information was given by the Punjab deputy chief minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal in Chandigarh today.
Badal appreciated the efforts of Punjab New and Renewable Energy Minister, Bikram Singh Majithia and his team for outstanding achievements on Renewable Energy front. By February 2012, the State had installed capacity of just 9 MW which has reached now 225 MW with an investment of Rs 1,500 crore. He said that 24 new projects of 229 MW capacity plus 65 MW rooftop projects with an investment of Rs 2,100 crore were all set to be started soon.
Underlining the need for promotion of clean energy in a big way, the deputy chief minister said that the time has come to harness the big potential available in solar and bio-mass energy and it could be possible only through wider participation of various sections of the society.
Speaking on the efforts of his ministry, Majithia outlined the achievements as well as new initiatives being taken in renewable energy sector. He said that the recently launched net metering policy has got tremendous response as tenders to the tune of 65 MW have been successfully floated and number of NRIs and other landowners were evincing keen interest for Farmers Solar Power Generation Scheme under which 500 MW was being targeted.
The minister said that the State has already notified Net Metering Policy with a view to take the concept of clean and green living to every house and the target was to install 200 MW in next 3 years. There are 1,100 applications have already been received in 3 months. He further said that India’s largest rooftop plant of 7.5 MW has been set up at Beas, Amritsar in 2014 and it was being expanded to 31.5 MW which will make it the World’s largest rooftop PV (photovoltaic) plant.
