Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra on Saturday directed the Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) to come up with cost-effective proposals for promoting domestic and private use of solar power.
While reviewing the progress of works, Mahapatra directed to popularise the devices like solar water heater, solar lights, solar fencing in farms and agricultural fields, solar-based agricultural equipment through intensive awareness, demonstration and promotional activities, etc. He also asked to explore the possibilities for incentivising domestic and private use of solar power.
The OREDA has made significant strides in generation and use of renewable energy in the State with more than 4,00,000 installations serving around 5.5 million people.
This was known at a review meeting held on digital mode under the CS’s chairmanship. Energy Department Principal Secretary Nikunja Bihari Dhal outlined the issues for discussion. While presenting the updates OREDA Chief Executive Dhananjaya Swain said that by July this year, with 4,00,000 different types of renewable energy installations, the per-year carbon dioxide emission was reduced by more than 30 MT. Swain added that the major installations included 1,163 rooftop solar projects having a total capacity of 12.3-MW power.
Besides, it installed 2.44 lakh biogas plants, 13,219 solar-powered drinking water projects, 1,687 solar irrigation pumps and 18,122 improved solar cook stoves.
The agency also helped in electrification of 2,903 villages with 84,858 households and has distributed 82,033 solar lanterns. The meeting also discussed at length about the new technologies like solar cold storage, solar drinking water kiosks, solar powered Lok Seba Kendras, solar sewing machines, solar rope making machines, solar millet processing units, solar silk reeling units, solar dryers for vegetables, grains, fishes, spices in most hygienic manner were discussed in the meeting.
Considering the potential use of the new technologies, the Chief Secretary directed to frame a work plan for enhancing the use of solar-powered machines and devices in domestic, private and Government sectors.
For the purpose, a committee was constituted under chairmanship of Development Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Jena.