Will Achieve 100 GW Solar Target Ahead of 2022, says Harsh Vardhan

The government has set a target of 175 GW of renewable power by 2022 and out of it 100 GW should be in solar. It will not be a problem, the Union Minister said.

The Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan said in Kolkata that India’s 100 GW solar mission target will be achieved ahead of its target in 2022.

Speaking on the sidelines of a seminar on solar technologies jointly organised by NB Institute for Rural Technology (NBIRT) and Vikram Solar, the Union Minister said, “The government has set a target of 175 GW of renewable power by 2022 and out of it 100 GW should be in solar. It will not be a problem.”

However, a senior solar power expert has said that, in West Bengal, roof-top solar project has not picked up fast enough owing to regulatory hurdles.

As per the present regulation, net metering is not allowed for single phase roof-top solar projects below 5KW.

The expert said, “West Bengal is the only state in the country where net metering is not allowed for roof-top solar below 5KW as against 1KW in other states. Moreover, the same is not allowed for single phase (residential connections).”

“The West Bengal regulatory Commission will have to bring down the threshold criteria to 1KW from 5KW to push household roof-top solar in the state,” he added.

Meanwhile, the first floating solar project in the city will come up at Vikramgarh jheel close to South City Mall.

Also, NBIRT, President, S P Gon Chaudhury said “The state power minister Shovandeb Chatterjee had taken an initiative to protect the lake with a floating solar project of 350KW to be constructed at Rs 2.6 crore at Vikramgarh lake.”

Source: PTI