The State government is mulling promotion of rooftop solar energy generation in a big way to achieve a power generation capacity of at least 5,000 MW from this move over the next five years.
With the Centre setting a target of 40,000 MW for roof top solar energy generation out of total solar power of 1 lakh MW over the next five years across the country, New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP) wants all domestic, commercial, industrial and government buildings to install solar power panels.
The Corporation would soon take up the issue with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to instruct all government offices to take the lead in this regard from panchayat to State level, NREDCAP vice-chairman and Managing Director Kamalakar Babu said, adding that an energy audit of government offices in West Godavari district revealed that around 50 per cent of the energy could be saved if they switched over to solar power.
In view of the skilled manpower needed for installation of solar power panels, NREDCAP had recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute to train the youth from AP.
Candidates, who hold diploma from ITIs and those who completed SSC, would be sent to Gujarat for national certification course on solar rooftop installation. Officials from the GERMI would also visit AP to impart training.
Referring to domestic rooftop solar energy generation, Mr. Kamalakar said that typically a three bedroom house would require solar energy of 3 KW, which would cost about Rs. 3 lakh.
The Union government would provide 15 per cent subsidy while the rest would have to be borne by the house owner.
A major advantage for such house-owners would be that they could sell the extra power to discoms and it would be pumped into the grid.
At the same time due to energy mix, his power bill would come down.
Govt. sets a target
of generating
5,000 MW over
the next five years
