Emphasizing on the need to create awareness amongst the people for generating solar energy for domestic consumption, the Punjab Governor Mr Shivraj V Patil today asked the state government to make concerted efforts to decentralize the generation of Solar energy to meet the ever growing demand of power in the state. Presiding over a high level meeting to review the untapped potential of solar energy in the state, the Punjab Governor said every household across the state should be encouraged to have Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) Panels on their rooftops to augment the energy generation in the state. He opined that solar energy should be made a mass movement to meet the power supply in domestic, agriculture and industrial sector besides the religious institutions and shrines especially the Gurudwaras. Mr Patil underscored the need to woo the manufacturers of SPVs to set up their units in the state to ensure sufficient supply of these panels for tapping the unutilized potential of solar energy in far more meaningful and result oriented manner.
The Governor further said that solar energy could also be tapped with the installation of SPVs along with the banks of the canals as Punjab had an efficient canal network across the state. Explaining the rationale behind the decentralization of generation of Solar energy, Mr Patil said land in Punjab was very expensive and therefore Rajasthan and Gujarat model were not viable here. He mentioned the state government should make it mandatory for all the public as well as private buildings especially the upcoming housing clusters to have installation of SPVs for the generation of solar energy. The Governor said that 40% energy could be saved from the conventional power by optimally utilizing the Solar energy. “We must remember the energy saved was energy produced” he added.
Appreciating the NRSE Policy-2012 framed by the state government, the Governor said it was deftly crafted to dispose of the biomass in an efficient manner by generating power from agricultural waste besides co-generation. He said the energy generation from the paddy and wheat stubble was more suitable as there was an abundant stock of biomass besides this process of energy generation was also environmental friendly because the practice of burning this biomass resulted in heavy pollution causing health hazards. Mr Patil pointed out in present context thermal as well as Hydel energy was comparatively much costlier as compared to the Solar one. He said that in future even the transport sector would also run on the Solar energy. The Governor asked Mr Badal to send a high level delegation comprising officers of PEDA and experts in the field of Non-Conventional energy led by theNon Conventional and Renewable sources Minister to study the technology of Solar energy in Germany and China. Mr Patil assured the Chief Minister that he would soon take up the matter with Government of India (GoI) for giving special subsidy over and above the currently available to popularize the concept of solar energy amongst the people in the state.
Taking part in deliberations the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal highly appreciated the concern of Mr Shivraj V Patil for convening this crucial meeting to deliberate upon the various dimensions to tap the optimum potential of solar energy in the state as an alternative to the conventional power generation. He said the Solar energy was the only answer to make state self sufficient in the power sector in the near future because excessive dependence on Thermal energy in future could be adversely effected by the shortage of coal. Mr Badal impressed upon the Governor to also convene a meeting of the officers of PEDA besides senior officers of the state government with the renowned companies manufacturing SVPs to ensure its uninterrupted supply.The Chief Minister also agreed to the proposal of Mr Patil to give subsidy on these panels to make them popular among the domestic consumers in a big way. He informed the Governor that the state government was already giving 70% subsidy on the Solar tanks used for Drip irrigations in the Orchids. Mr Badal also apprised the Governor that the state government had already initiated steps to make solar energy mandatory in the public and private buildings especially in the houses constructed over an area of one Kanal and above land in the urban estates. He also asked Mr Majithia to regularly update the Governor regarding the progress of Solar energy projects in the state by sending monthly report.
Speaking on the occasion Non Conventional and Renewable sources Minister Mr Bikram Singh Majithia said that NRSE-2012 Policy would go a long way in transforming the power scenario in the state by generating enormous power. He said that the policy was aimed at maximizing and improving the share of new and renewable sources of energy to 10% of the total installed power capacity of the state by the year 2020 besides promoting renewable energy initiatives for meeting energy/lighting needs. Mr Majithia further said that the policy would also focus on creating conducive conditions to woo private sector investments in NRSE projects along with broader participation by public by giving a slew of incentives. The Minister told Mr Patil that as per the new policy focus would also be laid to generate nearly 1000 MW Power through Non Conventional and Renewable sources of energy in the state by year 2022 adding that the new policy would also be instrumental in bridging the gap between the demand and supply of Power besides ensuring quality power to the consumers at affordable rates.Prominent amongst other present in the meeting included Chief Secretary Mr Rakesh Singh, Advisor UT Administration Mr KK Sharma, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary to the Governor Mr MP Singh, Principal Secretary Science Technology and Environment Mr Karan Avtar Singh and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) PEDA Mr TPS Sidhu and Director PEDA Mr Balour Singh.