Additional chief secretary, power, S Suresh Kumar said: “Bengal is blessed with natural resources like a number of coal mines. We don’t need to carry coal more than 20-30 km for power generation.”
Kolkata: The Bengal government wants to strike an intricate balance between solar and thermal power, with the climate crisis pushing for faster and drastic transition to renewable energy.
Solar for day time and thermal, with a judicious mix of battery storage, for night might be a plausible solution, experts said.
Additional chief secretary, power, S Suresh Kumar said: “Bengal is blessed with natural resources like a number of coal mines. We don’t need to carry coal more than 20-30 km for power generation.”
Solar power, however, costs half or less compared to thermal power station of the same capacity, and solar power generates more jobs, he said at the 14th environment and energy conclave of Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCC&I). An increasingly alert consumer will go for cheaper energy like solar power, he said
According to Kumar, fear of job loss with the transition from thermal to solar was unfounded.
Earlier, TERI distinguished fellow Manjeev Singh Puri, a former foreign service officer and an ambassador, said: “There is a great opportunity for industries in Kolkata, which serves as gateway to southeast Asia.
The fossil fuel-based projects are getting less and less bankable by international investors. Indian Inc in Kolkata can play a role by floating renewable energy-based projects to attract easy global funding.”
Source: TNN
