Advisor to Governor, K Vijay Kumar today reviewed the functioning of Science & Technology department and the initiatives taken to harness all forms renewable energy in the state. He said the dependence for our power needs should be shifted by generating power form Solar, Wind and other renewable sources.K Vijay Kumar while chairing a meeting which was attended by Secretary Science & Technology, Fayaz Ahmad, CEO JAKEDA and other senior officers and Engineers of the department enquired about the performance made under various projects being initiated by the department in the state with details of feedback on the completed works.During the meeting, a presentation was made and informed that Science and Technology department has two important verticals, the Jammu & Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) and Science & Technology Innovation Council (ST&IC) having separate mandates.While discussing the efforts undertaken by JAKEDA to tap the energy potential from all kind of renewable sources in the state including Solar, Hydel and Wind, the Advisor was briefed about the projects taken up to harness all these forms of renewable energy.With regard to Solar Power Projects, it was given out that J&K state has been allocated a collective target of 1150 MW to be achieved by the end of 2022 out of which 450 MW have to be achieved through Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Power. It was informed that Ministry of Non-renewable Energy, GoI is providing 70% subsidy to the domestic consumers & institutions registered under societies act and maximum of 60 % to the government institutions.
CEO JAKEDA said that it has empaneled various firms as vendors through tendering process for installations of Rooftop Solar Plants ranging from 1 KW to 500 KW capacity.The Advisor enquired about the progress made in this regard and the cost details of Rooftop Photovoltaic (RTPV) and numbers of RTPV provided to domestic and government institutions.K Vijay Kumar asked JAKEDA to discuss this with various government institutions especially educational and health where Rooftop Solar Plants can be installed for generating power for their own consumption.About 250 Off-grid Solar Power Plants ranging 5-150 KW capacity at various locations which includes district/sub district/community health/ educational institutions of the state. It was told that 91000 Solar Home Lights in un-electrified villages/hamlets under Remote Village Electrification Programme of MNRE have been distributed besides, 30000 home lights in other areas under the JNNSM.Under PMDP, it was apprised that the agency has also identified 13 sites (each of upto 10 MW station capacity) with an aggregate capacity of 114.5 MW for development of Small Hydro Power Projects. Various issues pertaining to these projects were discussed in detail including fund availability for the execution of the works.The progress for setting up of Mega Size Solar Power Plants in the state was also deliberated upon. The Advisor asked for taking up the issue with various departments having land with them which can be utilized for setting up of these Mega Solar Plants.Pre-feasibility analysis done for the sites at four locations in Basohli Tehsil of Kathua district could be developed in first instance for the purpose, CEO JAKEDA informed.
With regard to development of Mini Hydel Projects, the Advisor was informed that the agency had the mandate for implementation of Mini Hydel Projects (MHPs) upto 2 MW. 4 MHPs are in the advanced stages of construction and the tentative dates of commissioning. Further, JAKEDA has awarded 35 Mini Hydel Projects to be developed by IPPs in phased manner.To harness the wind energy, the meeting was told that wind masts were installed at various locations by National Institute of Wind Energy, Chennai for assessment of wind power potential in the state. Till date only one site at village Bidda, district Reasi has been found to have potential for development of wind power project.The issues related to the development 6 MW wind power project on pilot basis under Ministry’s Wind Demonstration Scheme including transfer of the land of the identified site in possession of NHPC to JAKEDA were also discussed in detail.Informing the meeting, the Secretary Science & Technology department said that about 37000 Biomass Cook-stoves and 5000 Solar cookers have also been distributed in the remote areas.Addressing the officers, K Vijay Kumar assured the support of the government in developing the solar, mini hydel and wind power projects in the state. He said that the efforts should bring positive results and the power generated through renewable energy sources would help in meeting out the requirement of power to the same extent.He asked the officers to study the models and techniques being used by other states for generating the power from renewable energy sources and to adopt the same here for improved results.