The State envisages renewable energy capacity addition of 2,750 megawatt (MW) by 2022 and a major part of this target has been assigned to the solar power sector with a share of 2,200 MW.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik revealed this ambitious programme while launching web platform www.rtsodisha.gov.in here on Wednesday. Science & Technology Minister Badri Narayan Patra and Energy Minister Prafulla Mallcik were present.
The web platform has been designed in a manner that different stakeholders such as OREDA, Discoms and vendors can interact with customers and also deliver their services online so that consumers get timely services.
This capacity includes land base, canal base, grid-connected rooftop as well as off-grid solar projects. Roof top potential in the State has been estimated at 5,000 MW. For current year, a target of 8 MW has been fixed, of which 4 MW has been exclusively assigned to the capital city.
The grid-connected rooftop programme is primarily meant for consumers of utility power. The consumers can instal small solar plants on their rooftops and consume the generated solar power during daytime. Excess power, if any, can be exported to the grid at 220V/440V levels through their service cables.The exported power is metered on a special type of meter called Net-Meter, which is provided by the respective Discoms. The positive difference of import from the grid and export to the grid is billed to the consumers.
In this manner, the consumer can reduce his consumption of utility power by using his own solar power and can, simultaneously, get a reduced bill on account of export of solar power to the grid.
Investment on the rooftop solar system is about Rs 70,000 per kilowatt (KW) and subsidy to the tune of 30 per cent is available to the consumers belonging to residential and institutional segments as well as to registered societies and trusts.
“It is expected that in the years to come grid-connected rooftop solar plants will proliferate in a big way and meet the State’s expectations in addressing the Climate Change Action Plan,” said Science & Technology Secretary Vir Vikaram Yadav.
He said that so far, a total capacity of 68 MW has been commissioned in the State; and, to further facilitate, land-based solar parks are being set up in suitable locations.
OREDA Chief Executive Roopa Mishra said the off-grid solar segment is well on track with more than 1,700 remote villages electrified through solar power.
Mishra, who is also Director of Drinking Water Mission said deployment of about 8,000 solar pumps for drinking water supply and 600 pumps for irrigation have been achieved.
More than 500 off-grid rooftop projects for schools, colleges, hospitals, police stations and Government institutions are already there, said sources.
Source: dailypioneer
