Goa’s New Solar Power Policy Sets Target to Generate 150 MW of Power by 2021

The policy includes a unit of capacity of up to 100KV of power and is divided into three categories said the chief minister.

Goa Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar approved the much needed solar power policy according to which the state will target to generate 150MW of energy by 2021. Parrikar also announced the policy to become operational by the end of the current financial year.

“Lot of people were anticipating the solar power policy. We had extensive discussions on the policy before finalising it,” he quoted.

“It will take next two-three months to have proper documentation for the policy and by the end of this financial year, it will become functional and will start showing an impact,” he added.

The policy includes a unit of capacity of up to 100KV of power and is divided into three categories said the chief minister.

The government will compensate the residential societies generating less than 100KV power under this policy according to the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission rates based on the gross metering, the units producing more than 100 KV power will be compensated on net metering as the unit operator would be participating in the reverse gridding of the power, he commented.

The policy also encourages power generation by individuals, who either have their own land where they can set up the unit or can procure NOC from the land owners for it, Parrikar said.

“The land owner would be spared from the process of conversion of his land or permission from local panchayat or civic body, if he is installing solar power generation plant under the policy,” he said.

“In such circumstances, the power producer will have to show the documents of the land and bank guarantee of six months. But the unit operator would be penalised in case of non-supply of power to the government or delay in it,” he quoted.

The policy also has provision of providing 50 per cent of the project costs at zero interest loans to the units, which can later be repaid through supplying power to the state, six months post functioning of the unit. Parrikar said that the housing colonies can have their roof-top solar power generation by employing one contractor if all the owners come together.

Goa to produce 150MW of power by 2021 as per the target set by the centre, said State Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar.

“So initially, we will go for 50 MW power. After that we will add another 50 MW,” he added.

Source: ET Energy World