Minister (Independent Charge) of State for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy, GOI Mr. Piyush Goyal, today sent a communiqué to Chief Minister Punjab S. Parkash Singh Badal congratulating him and the State team on successfully tendering 500 MW Grid Connected solar power projects in the state. Punjab Government, in the area of solar energy has got accolades at National Level and last year Punjab received 'Best performing State award in Solar Energy' by Prime Minister of India Sh. Narendra Modi who presented this award to S. Bikram Singh Majithia, New & Renewable Energy Minister.Recognizing the persistent efforts of Punjab in promoting solar energy, the Union government has appreciated Punjab government’s pioneering initiatives on the solar power front. , Mr. Goyal wrote that with more than 200 MW solar power projects including large solar installations already producing clean energy in the state, the successful tendering of 500 MW solar projects will not only have a positive impact in the sector but also go a long way in meeting the National Solar Mission’s (NSM) target of 100 GW solar capacity by 2022. “It is our endeavour to provide clean, reliable energy to the vast population”, he added.
The Minister appreciated the state government’s efforts for promotion of grid connected solar rooftop projects as the state has not only notified the necessary policy but the World’s largest grid connected solar rooftop project of 7.52 MW was set up in Punjab and is further being expanded to 20 MW. It may be mentioned here that Punjab has recently allotted rooftop solar projects of capacity 53 MW to developers.Seeking more support from states for realizing the 100 GW National Solar Mission target, Mr. Goyal said that the NSM was making relentless efforts to bring down the cost of solar power to have grid parity for popularizing the usage of solar power for generation of electricity throughout the country. “Punjab’s positive and pro-renewable energy efforts will certainly inspire other states”, he concluded.In a short span of three years of time, S. Bikram Singh Majithia has scripted a new success with Solar Energy generation in Punjab all set to increase its green power generation from 9 MW to 1550 MW (172 times). During this period, Punjab has also recorded a massive increase in investment from meagre Rs. 70 crore to Rs. 12,000 crore besides creating employment avenues for 10,000 youth. “It is only possible due to solar developers accross the globe are investing in Punjab considering its best solar power promotion policy in the country”, Mr. Majithia said.
Punjab Government has also launched a unique Net Metering policy under which one lakh buildings will be covered by year 2022 resulting in 200MW of solar power generation. The Minister added that “the most interesting part of the solar success story of Punjab is that right from a local farmer having land holding of 4 acres to the world's best companies in Solar Energy like SolaireDirect, International Switchgears, Abundant Energy, Northstar Solar Power, Welspun Solar Punjab, Mumbai, Focal Energy Solar India, Omega Solar Energy, IK Energy, TR Energy, Azure Urja, Atma Powers, Madhav Solar, PL Surya Urja, Essel Renewable Energy, Nexgen Solux , Allianz Eco Power, Mokia Green Energy, Aditya Medi Sales and many more are now equal partners in the Solar revolution being ushered in by Punjab, a comparatively small state having just 2% geographical area of the country”.