BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has directed district Collectors to identify 25 un-electrified villages in each district to provide power through solar energy.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has proposed to the State Government to launch a pilot scheme on village electrification through solar energy.
Under the scheme, solar PV (photo voltaic) based home systems would be provided to every household in two villages in every Lok Sabha constituency.
Each household will be provided 100-200 watt peak solar PV system to provide power to 3-5 LED (light emitting diode) lights, 1-2 fans, mobile charging and running other small appliances at the discretion of the household. Each system is estimated to cost `50,000. While MNRE will bear 60 per cent of the cost, the State Government has been asked to provide 30 per cent subsidy. The balance 10 per cent will be contributed by the beneficiary, Science and Technology Secretary Surendra Kumar said in a letter to the Collectors. Kumar has requested the Collectors to identify at least 25 un-electrified or power starved villages/hamlets in their respective districts where there is an urgent need to provide power through solar energy. “Each village/hamlet may have 100 or more households. In case, such households are not available, clusters of villages/hamlets with 100 or more households can also be selected,” he said.
The Government has planned to generate 350 MW from solar, wind and bio-mass during the 12th Plan period.
Meanwhile, the Government has prepared a draft solar policy and hosted the same on its website soliciting public opinion. Opinions received from different quarters are being examined for necessary incorporation wherever possible. The draft will be finalised and placed before the Cabinet for approval, official sources said.
The State receives an average solar radiation of 5.5 kWh/Sqm area with around 300 clear sunny days every year. The feasible potential for power generation in the solar photovoltaic and the solar thermal routes have been roughly estimated as 8,000 MW and 2,000 MW respectively.