New solar energy policy aims to produce 3000 MW power in 3 yrs

Christened as 'Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Policy 2012,' the new initiative of the Jayalalithaa government, with a slew of encouraging features, finds opportunity in the rapidly declining solar power costs and aims at tapping at least 1000 MW through solar power annually in the power-starved state.

".. (the policy) intends to made solar energy a people's movement just as it did earlier in the case of rain water harvesting," the policy said.

Targeting to clock a production of 3000 MW of power by 2015, the new policy says the falling prices of solar panels were on the verge of coincidence with the growing cost of grid power in India.

The policy also involves large-scale power consumers into the initiative by mandating six per cent SPO (Solar Purchase Obligation) on them.

The SPO to be administered by TANGEDCO (Tamilnadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd) will be applicable to all High Tension (HT) consumers, including SEZs and IT parks, but Low Tension (LT) consumers like domestic consumers, powerlooms, cottage and tiny industries, agricultural consumers will be exempted from the mandate, the policy said.

Elaborating on how 3000 MW of power would be generated, the policy said, "In utility scale out of 1500 MW, 1000 MW will be funded through SPO and balance 500 MW through Generation Based Incentive (GBI) provided by the government."

The policy also promotes solar rooftops in domestic and government buildings. MORE