AP to promote roof-top solar energy in a big way

January 26, 2015 06:47 pm | Updated June 13, 2016 01:04 am IST - HYDERABAD:

Plans are afoot to promote roof-top solar energy generation in a big way in Andhra Pradesh and achieve a target of at least 5,000 MW over the next five years. With Government of India setting a target of 40,000 MW for roof top solar energy generation out of total solar power of one lakh MW over the next five years across the country, New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh wants all domestic, commercial, industrial and government buildings to install solar power panels.

The Corporation would soon take up with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to instruct all government offices to take the lead in this regard from panchayat to State level, its vice-chairman and managing director, Kamalakar Babu said. He said that an energy audit of government offices in West Godavari district revealed that about 50 per cent of energy could be saved if they switched over to solar power.

In view of the skilled manpower required for installation of solar power panels, NREDCAP had recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute to train youth from Andhra Pradesh. Youngsters, who hold diploma from ITIs and those who completed SSC would be sent to Gujarat for national certification course on solar roof top installation. Officials from GERMI would also visit AP to impart training.

Referring to domestic roof top solar energy generation, Mr. Kamalakar said that typically a three bedroom house would require solar energy of 3 KW, which would cost about Rs.3 lakh. The Government of India would provide 15 per cent subsidy while the rest would have to be borne by the house owner.

A major advantage for such house-owners would be that they could sell the extra power to discoms and it would be pumped into the grid. At the same time due to energy mix, his power bill would come down and they would be contributing to overall improvement of the environment.

He said NREDCAP would also take up with the officials concerned the need to have roof top solar power for the houses constructed by the government.

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