Partial switch over to solar power on cards (Herald)

Partial switch over to solar power on cards July 11, 2013 SHWETA KAMAT PANJIM: Goa government intends to partially switch over to solar power in the days to come, under the Centre’s compulsory procurement of renewable energy directive and avoid paying fine to the Centre and loss to the exchequer. It is in the process of inking a deal with Power Trading Corporation (PTC) to procure 15 MW of solar power. Electricity department sources said that the Central government has made it mandatory for every State to convert at least 0.5 per cent of its allocation to renewable power. Goa has been paying fine in the past for not being able to get environment friendly energy. Considering the potential of generating solar energy in the country the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is promoting and encouraging solar energy on a large scale amongst citizens for a green and clean environment. Accordingly, as per the National Tariff Policy, amended in January 2011, all the states are bound to convert at least 0.5 to 0.25 per cent (depending on their total allocation) of their allocation to renewable power. Goa requires 450 MW of power, of which 400 is allocated by the Centre and 50 MW managed by the State. “The PTC has been nominated to supply 15 MW power generated from solar energy to Government of Goa at the rates approved by Central Electricity Regulatory commission,” a senior official said. The department has already moved the file to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for his nod. “Once we get the formal approval from the government, we will complete all the procedures,” the official said. PTC is a leading provider of power trading solutions in India and was established in 1999 as a Government of India initiated Public-Private Partnership (PPP), whose primary focus is to develop a commercially vibrant power market in the country. Parrikar during the recent audit of the power department had come across this violation of compulsory purchase of renewable energy by the department. The state government was paying fine, causing a loss to the exchequer. “The Chief Minister had asked the department to look out for the supply so that we abide by the norms of the central government and also save the money which were being drained in the form of fines,” officials said. The state government will also try for other kind of energy like wind power energy as an alternate to thermal and hydal power. The former Congress government had plans to have its own power plant/s to generate power from conventional and non-conventional sources through PPP. However, the plan continued to remain on papers only. http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Local%20News/Partial-switch-over-to-solar-power-on-cards/76765.html