Cabinet likely to give nod for grid policy

The grid policy promoting rooftop solar power generation will probably be approved by the state cabinet on Tuesday. Under the policy, the state will provide subsidy to cooperative housing societies and government buildings to generate solar power.

The new policy being brought in by the energy department to promote renewable energy is called “Off Grid Energy Policy”. State energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, said that the state government is considering promoting power generation through solar panels on rooftops of educational campuses and government buildings as well as cooperative societies and private buildings. He further said that they are also promoting solar power pumps for water distribution scheme in rural areas and the use of solar energy to cook food at government hostels.

According to the policy, the state will set a target of five years to generate 200 MW from rooftop solar panels, establish 10,000 solar pumps for small and medium water distribution schemes, generate 4,000 KW from biogas, and operate micro-grid pilot projects in two villages. If the Cabinet approves the policy, the energy department plans to establish a solar heater with a capacity of 318.75 lakh litres in government hostels. “Legislators and MPs can use their development fund to promote these schemes,” said Mr Bawankule.

“The District Planning Development Council (DPDC) will have a mandate to reserve 3 per cent funds and the state will be allocated Rs 300 crore from the annual plan every year to implement the policy,” he said.

Government offices, cooperative societies and apartments, hospitals and educational trusts will be eligible for a subsidy of Rs 20 per watt or 20 per cent of the project cost, whichever is lesser. “Promoting renewable sources of energy will reduce the burden on conventional power plants and also save energy,” he said.