New and Renewable Energy Minister Rajendra Shukla has said that solution to global warming lies in solar energy and not thermal power. He said that only rooftop net metering system will bring solar energy revolution in Madhya Pradesh.
More and more solar panels will be seen on rooftops of buildings in the State in coming time. For this, he also laid emphasis to create public awareness. Shukla was dedicating a 11.96 KW solar power plant installed on rooftop of PDTC Building of Central Region Power Distribution Company at Govindpura on Tuesday.
Minister Shukla said that Asia's biggest solar power plant of 135 MW capacity has been installed in the state and world's biggest 750 MW solar power plant is going to be set up at Rewa. He said that open area has shrunk during present days. Therefore, rooftop net metering system is the best alternative. Shukla said that per unit cost of solar power will come done when its generation will increase in the State.
Principal Secretary Energy ICP Kesari said that as a pilot project, Central Region Power Distribution Company has started work of gross metering system to set up solar rooftop projects of grid of 5 MW in the government and government undertakings' buildings in three cities of the state. The Central government has allocated Rs12 crore for the pilot project. Principal Secretary Renewable Energy Manu Shrivastava informed that work of 5 MW grid started by Messrs RattanIndia will be complete by the end of February 2016.
Company's MD Vivek Porwal informed that Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has allocated Rs12 crore for the project. Messrs RattanIndia limited, Gurgaon has been selected for pilot project's first phase work in 3 cities Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur.
Power would be purchased from the company at minimum rate of Rs5.18 per kilowatt per hour in Bhopal, Rs4.90 in Indore and Rs5.11 in Jabalpur by Company. Under the project, 1.5 MW power each will be generated at Bhopal and Indore and 2 MW at Jabalpur city.