'India plans to tap 1 lakh MW of solar power by 2020'

According to the target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is planning to generate 100 GW (1,00,000 MW) of solar power by 2020 and the 40,000 MW should be procured through roof top solar units alone, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL)  Assistant General Manager (Solar Off Grid), Vidya Rani said.

She was speaking at a seminar and interaction on ‘Renewable Energy - Solar Roof Top Power Plants’ organised by Laghu Udyog Bharati (LUB-Karnataka Chapter) at Hotel Deepa Comforts in Kodialbail, Mangaluru, on Thursday.

Vidya Rani said 20,000 MW solar power is to be generated through solar parks and another 20,000 MW through states and private establishments. Karnataka has been given a target of producing 6,000 MW solar power.

Solar park in Pavagad

Stating that farmers are encouraged to produce solar power on the barren lands, she said the Government of Karnataka has earmarked a 11,000 acre land in Pavagad in Tumkur for the solar park, which is one of the modes of generating solar power.

The development of 2000 MW solar unit has been approved by Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd. The land lease rate for 30 years has been finalised and an amount of Rs 21,000 per acre per year would be given to the farmers towards the generation of 2000 MW of solar power. It is ensured that the fertile agricultural land is not used for the installation of solar panels, she noted.

As much as 30 per cent of subsidy is made available by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for the installation of solar panels for individual households. In order to stop the wastage of power in the existing system of solar roof top units, hybrid inverters will be introduced in the days to come, she said.

Vidya Rani said as per the existing calculations, coal, which is the major source of power generation, would last for only the next 50-55 years. Hence, there is a need to focus on renewable sources of energy and among the renewable sources, solar power is economical, she added.

Corporation Bank Mangaluru DGM-Zonal Head M B Ganesh,who was the chief guest, said all branches of the bank would provide loan towards solar unit installation.

Software development

MESCOM  Superintending Engineer H D Mahadevaiah said a software is being developed towards the online submission of applications for solar roof top unit. The respective sub-divisions can permit the installations of solar power units from 50 KW to 500 KW. Mescom has received 114 applications so far, he said.

Laghu Udyog Bharati President S K Sharma, General Secretary Yajnanarayana M N were among those who were present on the occasion.