Panaji’s Green Vision: CM Pramod Sawant Targets 100% Renewable Energy Within a Year

Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant revealed on Saturday that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has set its sights on converting Panaji into a fully renewable energy-powered city within a year.

Sawant stated, “The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has designated Panaji for a complete shift to renewable energy, with the goal of achieving 100% renewable energy status from August 15, 2023, to August 15, 2024.”

To facilitate this transition, the government has pinpointed 15 locations within Panaji where solar trees will be strategically installed to harness solar power.

At present, Panaji’s electricity demand stands at 128 MW, with an average peak load of 22 MW. However, the existing capacity of rooftop solar systems on government and private structures is merely 0.5 MW.

Sawant emphasized that for Panaji to attain complete reliance on solar energy, residents will need to either generate solar power or purchase it. He outlined various mechanisms, including rooftop solar systems, group net energy metering, virtual net energy metering, and innovative technologies like Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). As an example, he cited a pilot project at Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Stadium where solar panels were affixed to vertical walls.

Urging citizens to explore the Goa energy portal for comprehensive information on transitioning to renewable energy, Sawant envisions a broader impact.

“If every village in Goa adopts renewable energy practices, the state could be the first in the country to achieve the ambitious goal of Net Zero carbon emissions,” he said.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said that the state government has decided to provide 100 per cent renewable-based electricity supply to all sector by 2050.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a net zero by 2070 target at COP26 in 2021. India submitted its first Long-term Strategy for Low Carbon Development (LT-LEDS) the following year at COP27. In December 2022, a net zero emissions bill was introduced in the upper house of the Indian parliament to provide a framework for achieving net zero emissions by the year 2070.

In the LT-LEDS, India outlines sector-specific action areas, targeting the power, industry, transport, building, and urban sectors.