Punjab Power Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar on Wednesday said the State has the potential of more than 1,500 megawatt for installation of canal top solar power projects after conducting the mapping on the main canals.
He said the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has sanctioned 100 MW capacity in the country, out of which, 20 MW capacity pilot-cum-demonstration project for development of Grid Connected Solar PV Power Plants on canal tops has been allotted to Punjab.
Punjab Energy Develo-pment Agency (PEDA) has successfully completed and commissioned the entire 20 MW capacity projects allotted to the State, he said. Kangar said that the two projects of 7.50 MW each have been commissioned on Ghaggar Branch Canal and Ghaggar Link Canal in March 2018 and two of 2.50 MW each were commissioned on Sidhwan Branch Canal and Ghaggar Branch Canal respectively in March 2017.
“Tapping its resources well, Punjab is scaling heights in new and non-renewable energy sector wherein canal top solar projects will emerge as a revolution. They provide an alternative to add pollution free solar generation capacity since they utilize the vacant space over the canals and no land cost is involved,” said Kangar.
Source: dailypioneer
