Punjab has considerable
Monday, 01/10/2012
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Chandigarh : Punjab is all set to set up solar photovoltaic power packs in the households across the state under a massive plan to encourage the use of solar energy for basic electricity needs.
Disclosing this, here on Sunday, Non-Conventional Energy Minister Bikram Singh Majithia said that Punjab government was making all out efforts to fulfil the gap in demand and supply of electricity by installing more generating capacity in the renewable energy sector as well as conventional sector.
He said that as Punjab has considerable sunlight available for more than 330 days in a year with good insolation levels, abundant energy could be utilised for generation of power during the daytime through solar photovoltaic power plants.
He said that state is endowed with vast potential of solar energy estimated at 4 to 7 kilowatt hour (KWH) per square metre of solar insolation level and Punjab government was committed to tap this resource for strengthening power infrastructure in the state by setting up solar energy based power projects for individual households.
Majithia said that Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has planned for installation of solar power packs at households in the state with capacity of 500 watt peak (WP) to 1,000 WP, which was first such initiative in the country.
He said that Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has sanctioned the central financial assistance of Rs 3.03 crore as first instalment for a total project cost of Rs 10 crore. Minister further stated that the power produced from these systems could be utilised during the day as well as night by power storage options.
Besides generating power, solar photovoltaic power packs were environment-friendly and carbon neutral and are easily produced and consumed.
To provide the equipment easily to common man, Punjab government has set up ‘Akshey Urja’ shops in all districts of the state, where people can buy these on 30 per cent subsidy.
Majithia added that these shops have been allotted to professionals, who would also train the masses about the installation of power packs and their further use.
