Bikram Singh Majithia, Non Conventional Energy Minister, Punjab today requested Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi to make clean energy as an integral part of Swacchh Bharat Mission to save our future generations from long term adverse effects of pollution from traditional sources of energy.Inaugurating Conference on Roof Top Solar Power generation under Net Metering Policy here at CII jointly organized by PEDA and CII here today, Mr. Majithia said that it was imperative to give to give a big boost to clean energy including solar, hydel, wind and bio-mass etc. that could be achieved only by mission mode. He said that as Prime Minister has made Swacchh Bharat Pan India mission, making clean energy as part this mission would serve twin purposes of making India power surplus without polluting our environment.Seeking liberal tax concessions, subsidized loans including income tax breaks for clean energy projects, Mr. Majithia said that Prime Minister must take initiative to make India No. 1 country harnessing clean energy by including it in to Swacchh Bharat Mission.He advocated the need for ensuring availability of low interest rate loans and income tax incentives for setting up of new renewable energy projects to make these more economically viable.
Citing the example of Dear Beas for setting up of world’s single largest roof top solar power project of 7.5 MW in just eight months and their further plan to add 27.5 MW, Mr. Majithia said that such success stories need to be publicized in a big way. He said that Union New & Renewable energy Minister Mr. Piyush Goyal in his last visit to Punjab has in principle approved a 2000MW Solar Power Park throughout the state and the Punjab government was roping local governments both corporations/councils and village panchayats for making available required land. He said that village Panchayats have been authorized to give 75 % of the total Panchayati land on lease for setting up of such solar power projects. He said that Punjab has already taken a step by enhancing its solar power capacity up to 6 times in last two years besides completing around 40 MW of solar power generation five months in advance out of the ongoing 250 MW such projects under implementation with deadline of March 2015.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Upendra Tripathy, Secretary, New & Renewable Energy, GOI pointed out that the Union government has set a target of one lakh MW Solar power in next five years and it would be possible only through active cooperation of states. He said that solar potential of the country was being re-assessed and the Union government was also contemplating to set up a ‘Solar Army’ comprising of 15000 ITI trained students to take care of big solar power projects being planned on vacant spaces available along with major roads, railway tracks, deserts or in non agricultural lands besides roof tops of major governmental as well as public sector undertakings. He said that Global Investors Meet has been planned on 15 to 17th February, 2015 in which around 300 big investors across the globe would participate. He expressed confidence that the proposed meet would proved to be a launching pad for mega non renewable energy projects in the country. He said that an Association of Renewable Agencies has been formed which would go a long way in promoting power generation from renewable sources. He appreciated the Punjab government for taking path breaking initiatives like involving gram panchayats , implementing NRSE policy 2012 , introducing Net Metering policy and with setting up of World’s single largest Roof Top Solar project of 7.5 MW for promoting renewable energy.
Earlier, Mr. Anirudh Tewari, Secretary, Power & Non-Conventional energy made a detailed presentation on Punjab’s Roof Top Solar Power Generation & Net Metering policy. He said that the Punjab government has notified its Net Metering Policy for installation of Grid interactive Roof Top Solar Power projects in homes, institutions, Commercial/private/governmental buildings, warehouses and industries in the state. Under this policy, a solar power plant to be set up on the Roof Top of the building. During the day time power generated there would be used there or in case of excess or no usage it would be fed in the grid. During the night it could be drawn. He said that a Bi-directional meter would be installed in the supply line for registering of import and export of power. He added that under this ambitious policy Solar power projects of capacity ranging from 1KW to 1000KW could be installed and the maximum capacity of solar power project to be installed in a building would be 80 percent of the sanctioned electricity load of that building.On this Occasion, Mr. Majithia and Mr. Tripathy also formally unveiled the “Policy on Net Metering for Grid Interactive Roof Top Solar Photo Voltaic Power Plants”. At the onset of the conference, Mr. Sanjeev Pahwa, Chairman, CII Punjab State Council welcomed the Chief guest and outlined the purpose of conference. Dr. Amar Pal Singh, CEO, PEDA proposed a vote of thanks.