VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reiterated Andhra Pradesh’s commitment to generate 72.60 GW of renewable energy by 2030, aligning with India’s goal of producing 500 GW by the same year. This initiative, he said, will create jobs, protect the environment, and make the State a leader in green energy.
Delivering a keynote address on Monday at the Chief Ministerial Plenary of the 4th Global Renewable Energy Investment Meet, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar, Naidu promoted Andhra Pradesh as the next big player in green energy.
Highlighting the State’s long coastline, strong industrial base, excellent transport links, and vast potential in solar, wind, pumped storage, and green hydrogen, the Chief Minister invited global investors to take advantage of the State’s investor-friendly policies such as tax breaks, subsidies, and easy regulations and skilled workforce. “I want to create one of the best ecosystems for green energy in India,” he declared.
Naidu also stressed the need to adopt global best practices in renewable energy, focusing on research and development, policy support, and removing obstacles to emerging technologies. On the occasion, he announced plans to establish a Global University for Clean Energy and Circular Economy to encourage knowledge sharing and innovation.
The Chief Minister said the State has set renewable energy capacity targets of 40 GW solar energy, 20 GW wind energy, 12 GW pumped storage, 25 GW battery energy storage, 1 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) green hydrogen and derivatives, 2,500 KLPD biofuels, and 500 public charging stations for electric vehicles.
26 model solar villages to be established in State
He further pointed out that the State has the infrastructure to generate 4335.28 MW of solar power, 4083.57 MW of wind power, 106MW small hydro, 443 MW of bioenergy, and 36 MW of waste to-energy currently. Solar parks to generate around 4000 MW of power were established in Anantapur, Kurnool, and Kadapa districts. Parks will soon come up in Sri Sathya Sai and Prakasam districts to generate another 2700 MW of solar power.
Naidu also mentioned that the State government is implementing PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijili Yojana with a target to install rooftop solar panels in 10 lakh households by 2026-27, besides creating 26 model solar villages (one in each district) and solarisation of government buildings on saturation mode up to 150 MW by 2025-26 with support of NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd (NVVN).
Highlighting that the State has implemented feeder-level solarisation of agricultural feeders with an aggregate capacity of 3725 MW and also installed 31,275 off grid solar pumpsets as part of PM KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan), the Chief Minister said, “The State has also taken a lead to promote pumped storage projects at 39 locations with an estimated potential of 43.89 GW to balance its variable renewable energy (VRE) generation and minimise the grid imbalances.”
Emphasising that he wants the people to be involved as partners in renewable energy, Naidu said, “The State has PPPs and now we are introducing P4 - Public, Private, People’s Partnership.”
Explaining the incentives proposed under the draft ICE Policy 2024, Naidu said the State government has prioritised the promotion of renewable energy projects and is rolling out multiple initiatives, policies and incentives to accelerate the development of the renewable energy sector.
Asserting that the next revolution will be the Green Energy Revolution, he explained, “The government will provide vital incentives for development of wind projects and turbine manufacturers and waive off the transmission and wheeling charges to promote equipment manufacturing and development of infrastructure for renewable energy projects and also provide sector specific capital and interest subsidies to foster innovation and contribute to a greener, more resilient energy grid. Additionally, the government shall provide production incentives to equipment manufacturers and subsidies on power costs and electricity duty to reduce expenses and promote renewable energy manufacturing facilities.”
On behalf of Andhra Pradesh, Special CS (Energy) K Vijayanand received an award for setting up solar parks in Anantapur from Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.