The Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries’ Association (TANSTIA) has advised industrialists here to use solar power for lighting requirements.
A meeting organised by the TANSTIA, in association with BHEL Small Industries’ Association, took stock of the Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Policy 2012 and incentives for power producers and equipment manufacturers setting up solar energy parks. According to the policy, big industries and high tension electricity consumers should utilise solar energy for certain per cent of their consumption. For solar power producers, the government would offer net metering facility to connect to the grid.
During the meeting, industrialists decided to visit demonstration plants in Madurai and Coimbatore to study the cost and other factors involved in installation. “When power goes off, the entire industry gets plunged in darkness. By installing solar devices, the overall consumption could be brought down by at least 20 per cent,” explained Rajappa Rajkumar, vice-president, TANSTIA.
The industry associations would soon approach the government with a plea to extend the subsidy towards solar power equipment installed for domestic purpose to manufacturing enterprises as well. After witnessing a presentation by experts at the meeting, industrialists deliberated on the scope for establishing one MW solar plants, he said.
The TANSTIA would also liaise with officials of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation to drive home the imperative need to regulate power supply to the industrial estates in Mathur, Thuvakudi, Tiruverumbur and other places in the region at different timings.
