Goa gets solar power boost, signs agreement with IOC – EQ
In Short : In a significant move toward renewable energy adoption, Goa has signed a pivotal agreement with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to boost its solar power initiatives. This collaboration marks a crucial step in harnessing solar energy to meet the state’s power needs, emphasizing Goa’s commitment to sustainable development and reducing its carbon footprint. The partnership with IOC highlights the growing focus on clean energy solutions in India’s energy landscape.
In Detail : The State government and the public sector oil major Indian Oil Corporation on Friday signed an MoU under which the latter will set up solar power projects up to a whopping 800 megawatts to aid Goa emerge as zero carbon emission State by 2040.
Besides building solar energy capacity in the State on land provided by the State wherever available, IOC will also be setting up 40 EV charging stations at its petrol pumps across the State, according to the MoU.
The MoU signing event was held at the Institute Menezes Braganza in the city and was attended by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Power Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavlikar and from the IOC side its chairman Shrikant Madhav Vaidya.
The memorandum was signed by bureaucrat Sanjit Rodrigues and Chief Electrical Engineer Stephen Fernandes on behalf of the State while for IOC its executive director signed the dotted line.
Sawant said, the deal will greatly help the state achieve the target of being a zero carbon emission State by 2040.
“Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a 2050 target for the country to become zero carbon emission, we have set a target of 2040 for Goa,” Sawant said, adding that by the end of 2024 the capital city of Panaji will be a ‘solar city’ and work has already commenced.
IOC is India’s largest oil company and besides being the backbone of fuel supplies, it is also pivoting India’s energy transition from fossil-based fuel production and consumption to renewable energy like wind and solar.
