In tune with the tariff policy announced by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) last year, the State Government has amended its 2014-21 Solar Policy and set an ambitious target for the solar generation at 6,000 MW by March 2021.
Current installed capacity, including rooftop, is 300 MW.
A meeting of the State Cabinet, presided by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Tuesday approved the changes in the policy to encourage harnessing solar energy. The State’s solar energy potential is estimated in excess of 24,700 MW.
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As per the tariff policy and targets fixed by MNRE, the solar energy should constitute eight per cent of the total energy consumption, excluding hydro energy by March 2022. The policy of the Centre envisages that 40 per cent of the solar generation should be through rooftop, Law and Parliamentary Affairs T.B. Jayachandra told presspersons.
The solar generation would be limited to 200 MW per taluk from all sources of generation excluding projects implemented on roof top. Such projects should be allocated on first-come-first-serve basis for various categories identified under clause 8 of the solar policy.