In a move aimed to cut down carbon footprint and energy costs as the Government sets a target of Net Zero Carbon emission by 2070, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has inked a pact with NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN), aiming to harness solar power across its institutes nationwide.

Under the agreement, NVVN will provide, install, test, and maintain rooftop solar panels at 15 ICMR institutes, totaling a capacity of 4,559 KW. Additionally, a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) will secure a fixed solar tariff for the next 25 years, enhancing long-term cost efficiency and sustainability for ICMR operations.

Last year's total electric unit consumption of ICMR institutes was 24,181,811 kwh, as per the ICMR official.

The move to empower these institutes with solar power is the part of the Modi-led Government at the Centre to achieve the target of adding 50 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity every year for the next five years i.e. 2030.

A senior official from the ICMR said that the emphasis is on energy conservation and pollution-free environment aiming to reduce the dependence on conventional sources of energy, and replacing them with renewable sources.

Seven institutes are already benefiting from solar power under earlier projects, and the MoU with NVVN will extend solarisation efforts to additional facilities.

States are already stepping up efforts to help significantly reduce their carbon footprint and energy expenditure. For instance, Rajasthan is expected to attract investments worth Rs 5 lakh crore in the energy sector over the next five years, Minister of State Heera Lal Nagar said recently at the Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo 2024 organised by Informa Markets in India.

The Minister said that, "Rajasthan has transformed its geographic challenges into an energy boon. Currently, we produce 20,000 MW of solar energy, of which only 5,000 MW is used locally, while the rest is supplied across the country. Additionally, we have taken steps to further scale this, with planned investments of Rs 5 lakh crore in the energy sector over the next 4-5 years," Nagar said.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh has taken initiatives for 600 MW of solar and 880 MWh of battery storage, aiming to integrate renewable energy with energy storage solutions.