TN announces Solar Energy Policy 2012

The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced the Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Policy 2012, with an aim of generating 1,000 Mw of solar power every year from 2015, setting up of solar energy parks along with incentives for solar power producers and equipment manufacturers.

With the aim to generate 3000 Mw of solar power in the next three years, the government has also made rooftop solar panels mandatory for new buildings from the government and local bodies.

The aim is to make the southern state a front runner in the country with support of power produced from solar energy. In an announcement made on Saturday, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said that under the policy, the government would support domestic consumers who install solar panels on their buildings rooftop.

Big industries and customers of high tension electricity should utilise a certain per centage of their power consumption from solar energy, according to the new policy.

For solar power producers, the government would offer facilities like net metering which would help them in connecting to the grid, exemption from power charges and power cut.

The existing government buildings and local body buildings would have roof top solar panels installed in various steps. The street lights and drinking water distribution mechanisms would also be shifted to solar power managed in gradual steps, added the announcement.