The State will promote deployment of rooftop solar power plants connected at LT level with net metering facilities, in line with the National Solar Mission, said Electricity Minister Arcot N. Veeraswami on Friday.
Addressing an international conference on Renewable Energy, he said the State would start deployment of rooftop solar plants after the Central Electricity Authority issues necessary stipulations. The State had announced the highest tariff of Rs.18.45 against Rs.17.91 per unit fixed by Central Electricity Regulatory Authority (CERC) for solar power under rooftop PV and small solar generation programmes of Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Mission. Under the scheme, seven solar photo voltaic projects of 1 MW capacity each have been sanctioned for the State.
The State is in the process of formulating action plan on climate change and solar energy will get due significance by including an exclusive solar policy, Mr. Veeraswami said.
P.W.C. Davidar, Principal Secretary, IT and Energy Department, said the State is formulating a public policy for promoting rooftop solar power plants.
The policy will be submitted to the Tamil Nadu Energy Regulatory Commission for approval.
Andrew T. Simkin, Consul General, Consulate General of the United States of America; Mike Nithavrianakis, Deputy High Commissioner, British Deputy High Commission and R. Christodas Gandhi, CMD, Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) spoke. An exhibition with 80 stalls has been put up by suppliers, manufacturers and promoters of renewable energy.