MlAs submit letter underscoring its need
MlAs cutting across party lines met Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das and submitted a letter, requesting him to expedite finalisation and implementation of a robust solar power policy in the State.
Renewable energy and solar power in particular is widely regarded as one of the key solutions to meet the rising energy demand in the State. There is an enormous opportunity for the State to invest in both grid connected and off- grid solar power projects.
However, currently, the State does not have any specific solar power policy. It needs a robust solar power policy so that the developers, investors, service providers and other organizations/ agencies are clear about their roles and aware about the benefits, incentives or subsidies that can be availed from the Government, observed the delegation, which comprised Anant Das, Amar Satpathy, Prafulla Samal and Prasant Muduli from BJD, Chiranjeev Biswal and Ansuman Mohanty from Congress and Dilip Ray from BJP.
Odisha receives an average of 5.5 kwh/sq m of solar power per year with around 300 clear sunny days. The feasible potential for power generation in the solar photovoltaic and solar thermal routes in the State has been roughly estimated as 8,000 MW and 2,000 MW respectively.
Such high resource availability provides an opportunity for the State to actively utilize solar energy as a complementary source to the conventional energy sources.
Besides, with the rapid decline in cost of generation, solar power can ensure universal electrification by way of reaching the remote areas in the State quickly and in a cost effective manner, the MlAs convinced the Minister.
Highlighting the need for a comprehensive solar policy for Odisha, Biswal from Congress mentioned that it is very important to encourage development of solar technology and address energy security issues in the State which can effectively be done when there is a solar power policy in place.
Ray (BJP) laid thrust on productive use of wastelands, providing incentive to solar manufacturing agencies and creating an R&D hub for solar power technologies and creation of performance testing facilities for all types of solar energy devices to ensure supply of quality devices.
The Energy Minister assured that a State solar policy will be soon in place and necessary consultations will be done with the legislators and other stakeholders before its implementation.
He also highlighted that the State Government has a plan to set up 20 MW IPP solar project in Rengali under JNNSM Batch 1, Phase II under Viability Gap Funding Scheme, 1MW at Mukhiguda in Kalahandi under State scheme, Smart Grid project in Chhatrapur and 5MW Grid connected roof-top project, among others.