Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Haryana formulating State Solar Power Policy



By Haryananewswire
CHANDIGARH, Nov 12
Haryana Government is formulating State Solar Power Policy with a view to proactively promote solar power production. This was disclosed by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda while speaking at the inauguration of India’s first of its kind hi-tech production unit for Green Hybrid Box for solar projects at Gurgaon today.
            Mr Hooda said that the project would meet the millennium city’s power requirements and transform Gurgaon itself into Green City capital of the world. 
             He also stressed the need to explore new sources of energy, especially the renewable sources. Chief Minister said that at times, when traditionally expensive sources of power are blamed for their impact on the environment, new sources of energy especially renewable sources needs to be explored.
Mr Hooda said that renewable energy and environment are mutually co-related issues. Hence in the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) due importance has been given for the promotion of renewable energy in our country. Accordingly, the State Government is also laying emphasis for making the State self-reliant in the field of energy.  Besides, giving importance to efficient use of energy resources, the State Government is also giving importance to development and exploitation of maximum potential for generation of power from renewable sources like small hydro, biomass,  co-generation and solar energy.
            Mr Hooda said that under the promotion of off-grid solar power programme, 30 projects of total 581.0 kw capacity have so far been setup in various public and private sector units and Government offices in the State. Also, 550 kw capacity  power plants, with each ranging from 5 to 100 kw capacity, are under process with additional 40 per cent State assistance besides 30 per cent Central assistance.  Apart from this, 457 villages mainly inhabited by members belonging to Scheduled Castes have been provided with 9117 solar street lighting systems.
Mr Hooda said that at present about 195.99 MW of electricity  is being produced from renewable sources in the State. These included 73.30 MW from small hydro, 107.20 MW from biomass, 4.14 MW from waste to energy,  7.8 MW from solar and 2.74 MW from biomass gasification.In addition to grid-connected power plants, the State Government is also promoting off grid solar power plants and  devices such as solar water heating systems, rooftop solar power plants, LED based solar street lights, solar water pumping systems by providing financial incentives.
He said that the State Government is also promoting installation of solar water heating systems in a big way by providing additional state assistance along with 30 per cent Central Government assistance for social and domestic sector. Our efforts for promoting development of renewable sources of energy will continue with vigour, he added. 
          Mr Hooda said that energy security plays a vital role in the development of a state and country. To maintain a growth rate at the level of 10  per cent, the rate of consumption of energy increases by about 15 per cent annually.  Therefore, to provide better energy at economically viable cost is the priority of our Government. For the faster economic development, growing energy demand cannot be met with only coal and petroleum products. We barely produce only 1/4 of our total petroleum consumption, thus incurring a huge part of foreign exchange reserves on import of petroleum products. It is a matter of concern. Environmental problems like global warming are also associated with excessive exploitation of conventional fuels which needs to be tackled globally, he added.
He said that he has been informed that Hybrid Box Systems are the advanced power management systems to control and manage the power from multiple diverse sources like solar, hydel, biomass and  biogas energy to give an un-interrupted power supply. Certainly, the promotion and production of these systems will meet the requirement of power in urban as well as rural areas. 


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