Phenomenal increase in solar power by 2020 in the nation

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Dec 19, 2015 : Speaking at a seminar and interaction on ’Renewable Energy - Solar Roof Top Power Plants’ organised by Laghu Udyog Bharati (LUB-Karnataka Chapter) at Hotel Deepa Comforts in Kodialbail, Mangaluru, on Dec 17, Thursday.   Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL) Assistant General Manager (Solar Off Grid) Vidya Rani said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of 100 GW (one lakh MW) of solar power by 2020 and 40,000 MW should be generated from roof-top solar units alone,

Vidya Rani said 20,000 MW solar power is to be generated through solar parks and another 20,000 MW through states and private establishments. Karnataka has been given a target of producing 6,000 MW solar power.

Solar park  : Stating that farmers are encouraged to produce solar power on the barren lands, she said the Government of Karnataka has earmarked a 11,000 acre land in Pavagad in Tumkur for the solar park, which is one of the modes of generating solar power.

The development of 2000 MW solar units has been approved by Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd. The land lease rate for 30 years has been finalised and an amount of Rs 21,000 per acre per year would be given to the farmers towards the generation of 2000 MW of solar power. It is ensured that the fertile agricultural land is not used for the installation of solar panels, she noted.

Thirty per cent of subsidy is made available by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for the installation of solar panels for individual households. In order to stop the wastage of power in the existing system of solar roof top units, hybrid inverters will be introduced in the days to come, she said.

Vidya Rani said as per the existing calculations, coal, which is the major source of power generation, would last for only the next 50-55 years. Hence, there is a need to focus on renewable sources of energy and among the renewable sources, solar power is economical, she added.

Corporation Bank Mangaluru DGM-Zonal Head M B Ganesh,who was the chief guest, said all branches of the bank would provide loan towards solar unit installation.

MESCOM Superintending Engineer H D Mahadevaiah said a software is being developed for the online submission of applications for solar roof top unit.

The respective sub-divisions can permit the installations of solar power units from 50 KW to 500 KW. Mescom has received 114 applications so far, he said.

Laghu Udyog Bharati President S K Sharma, General Secretary Yajnanarayana M N were among the dignitaries who were present on the occasion.