Nagaland state gearing up to implement Rooftop Solar project
Nagaland is gearing up to implement the Rooftop Solar projects.
Towards this, a workshop on ‘Development of Grid Connected Rooftop Photo Voltaic programme in Nagaland’ took place here today as part of initiative taken by World Bank, State Bank of India and Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) called “Sustainable Partners for Rooftop Solar Acceleration in Bharat (SUPRABHA) which provides “Rooftop Solar Assistance.”
Rooftop Solar Photo Voltaic is rapidly emerging as a solution for de-centralized renewable energy generation globally due to the plummeting cost of solar photovoltaic technology.
Rooftop Solar PV generates electricity from solar power beyond the limit of land availability which enables a higher penetration of renewable energy in the power system, leading to more reduction in Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and climatic change mitigation.
Kikon assures political will
Mmhonlumo Kikon, Advisor, Information Technology, Science & Technology & NRE, Nagaland announced that the state government will provide all support and political will for successful implementation of solar rooftop projects in the state.
He was hopeful the solar rooftop project will benefit the public at large in providing energy solutions to individual homes, educational institutes, hospitals etc and also reduce the carbon footprint thereby tackling climate change /global warming issues.
He said the state government has proposed to set up smaller size Solar Parks with a capacity of about 23 MW, “but there are teething problems especially in terms of funding the project for infrastructural development.”
Once the funding for infrastructural development is in place, the Government of Nagaland would invite the Independent Power Developers & Investors to develop the project or go for a joint venture, Kikon said.
Stating that the solar tariffs have come down to Rs. 2.44 /unit in Solar Parks and Rooftop Solar down to Rs.1.58/ unit, Kikon sought the World Bank to show a way forward to Nagaland to develop such projects as “we need investment in this sector for our energy security and job opportunities.”
India targets 100GW installed capacity of solar by 2022
Deputy Team Leader, SUPRABHA, MNRE-WB-SBI Solar Rooftop TA Program, Dr. Bibek Bandyopadhyay said India has a target of 100GW installed capacity of solar by 2022, of which 40 GW is projected to come from Rooftop Solar systems.
In order to support this ambitious target, the World Bank and Global Environment Fund (GEF) launched a large financing program in 2016.
He further added that along with hydroelectric projects in the State, the Rooftop Solar PV will enable to create “Green Nagaland”.
Team leader, SUPRABHA, MNRE-WN-SBI, Yuvaraj Dinesh Babu Nithyanandam said to help each and every state, the MNRE has allocated around 17 states to technical assistant program and the entire North East (NE) region has been given to the World Bank to look after the capacity building.
He also said that the target given to Nagaland is about 50MW for RTS.
SUPRABHA’s proposed engagement with Nagaland includes; development of an exclusive Solar Rooftop policy, capacity building-training of utility engineers, entrepreneurs, bankers etc, unified web portal for online subsidy and interconnection modules etc.
Policy initiatives of NERC on promotion on GRPV
Highlighting the policy initiatives of Nagaland Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on promotion of GRPV in Nagaland, NERC chairman Imlikumzuk Ao said the necessary initiatives required for promotion of GRPV have already been taken up by NERC, adding that only the implementation is yet to be started.
Process is going on for framing state policy on promotion of solar energy.
He suggested installation of GRPV in places like Dimapur where there is frequent power interruption due to weak distribution network.
Earlier, welcome address was delivered by Kavito Chishi, director NRE Nagaland. The workshop also witnessed power point presentations from Rajiv Shukla, general manager Idam Infra Pvt Ltd, Arvind Karandikar, solar energy specialist and Shiddanth Awasthi, EY, SUPRABHA, MNRE, WB- SBI Solar Rooftop TA programe. Khekiho Yeptho, DGM IREDA, Dr. Bibek Bandyopadhyay and Yuvaraj Dinesh Babu Nithyanandam officiated questions and answers hour.
Source: morungexpress
