Key points:
The Punjab government has approved an outlay of Rs 60.50 crore to develop solar energy systems for rural piped water supply schemes in the state, reducing annual electricity costs by Rs 8-9 crore. The solar power plants with a total installed capacity of 8,698 MW will be net metered in 970 rural water supply systems serving 1,508 villages.
The Punjab government has approved an outlay of Rs 60.50 crore to develop solar energy systems for rural piped water supply schemes in the state, reducing annual electricity costs by Rs 8-9 crore. The solar power plants with a total installed capacity of 8,698 MW will be net metered in 970 rural water supply systems serving 1,508 villages. Bram Shanker Jimpa, Minister of Water Supply and Sanitation, said: “The administration aims to put basic amenities at the doorstep of the people. The objective of this initiative is to reduce the burden of energy charges to ensure financial sustainability of water supply schemes and effective operation and management of rural water supply schemes by gram panchayat water supply committees. In addition, it will increase the use of clean energy and contribute to environmental sustainability.”
Punjab has one of the highest energy procurement costs in the country thanks to its remoteness from pit coal, apart from its inefficient but politically risky power subsidy policy. Accordingly, finding ways to reduce the energy subsidy burden with cheaper renewable energy produced domestically makes a lot of sense.
Earlier, the Punjab administration had decided to commission 300 MW of photovoltaic (PV) solar power plants. These projects include 100 MW of floating solar PV projects on reservoirs and lakes and 200 MW of canal-top solar PV projects, according to an official release reflecting the decision taken at a recent high-level conference.
In addition, one lakh electric agricultural tube wells currently used by the state are powered by solar energy by the Punjab government. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had accepted a request for solarization of 1 lakh grid-connected electric tube wells and the Union Government had approved the same while setting a target of 1 lakh pumps for the state.