AP CM Pushes for Solar Power Self-Sufficiency

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has asked officials to make Andhra Pradesh a solar power hub and ensure self-sufficiency in solar power generation and consumption.

On Monday, in a meeting with senior officials from the Energy Department, the chief minister reviewed the ongoing projects with an emphasis on solarisation. He called for implementation of the plans in an expeditious manner and full utilization of the solar power potential for the state.

Naidu cited the prevalence of special climatic conditions in the state that gets sunlight mostly without shades and interruptions.

“If power consumers install solar power generation equipment on top of their houses, it would help them to use such power free of cost and also earn money from the surplus power they generate. The state would buy power from them,” he said.

The chief minister called for an awareness drive among the people on solar power. People must be encouraged to avail the benefits of central schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Eevam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM.

Naidu reviewed the solarisation programme that would provide incentives to promote solar power in the state a big way. Officials gave a presentation on generation of solar power from the roofs of houses, the setting up of fully solar powered villages, the installation of solar power equipment on top of the houses of SC and ST communities and the implementation of the ‘complete solarisation programme’ as a pilot project in Kuppam.

The officials explained the viability of using solar power in government offices.

As for the PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijjili Yojana launched by the Prime Minister on Feb 13 last, the Centre targeted one crore houses of which AP’s share is 30 lakh houses, they pointed out

Officials said, “The Centre is offering heavy subsidies for setting up solar rooftop equipment. For one kilowatt of solar rooftop, the Centre would provide a subsidy of Rs 30,000 out of a total cost of Rs 50,000. So was the case with the two kw, where Rs 60,000 would come as subsidy for the total cost of Rs one lakh. For three kw, Rs 78,000 would be provided as subsidy out of a total cost of Rs 1.45 lakh.

So far, 6,33,045 people have registered for solar power. Of them, 70,110 persons applied for PM Surya Ghar, and solar panels were installed at 4,961 houses.

In Kuppam, the home constituency of CM Naidu, 50,314 houses were found suitable for installation of solar power equipment. Of these, 50,312 house owners gave their willingness to install the sets. With this, nearly 2.66 crore sq-ft space would be available for installation of solar rooftop equipment for solar power generation.

In case the project was taken up under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijili Yojana involving the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO), it would cost Rs 286 crore. Out of this, an amount of Rs 172 crore would be given in the form of subsidy while the remaining Rs 114 crore could be generated in the form of pans to the beneficiaires.

As for the installation of solar panels on top of government offices, estimates are that this would help save expenditure on power bills for 100mw to the tune of Rs 349-379 crore. Some 2,186 government offices were identified for installation of solar rooftop equipment for over one lakh units.

Installation of solar panels in 19.53 lakh sq metres would help generate 2.62 lakh kw of power per annum and would cost Rs 262.25 crore.

The NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd will take up the programme. The state government has decided that either the general administration department or the finance department will provide guarantee to the programme.

Officials told the CM that the state government was providing free power up to 200 units to 20.38 lakh domestic consumers. Of them, 81 per cent houses were not viable for installation of solar panels while the programme might be implemented for the remaining 19 per cent of the houses in the phase-1.

Under the PM-KUSUM scheme, 14.94 lakh agriculture connections had the viability to install solar panels in the state. In phase-1, the officials targeted to generate 3,572 megawatts of solar power.

Moreover, the state government has targetted 132 villages to be converted as solar villages so that the houses will generate 100 per cent solar power. The Centre would provide a financial help of Rs 1 crore.

The chief minister directed the officials to expedite the implementation of the solarisation programme.