DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

In a bid to diminish reliance on fossil fuels, reduce the state's annual power subsidy, and make Punjab a leading state in clean energy production, the Punjab Government is mulling to set up 66 solar power plants, each with a 4 MW capacity (total 264MW capacity), said Mr. Aman Arora, Minister of New and Renewable Energy Sources, Punjab.

He, along with Power Minister Mr. Harbhajan Singh ETO, chaired a high-level meeting with the senior officers from departments of New & Renewable Energy Sources, Power and Punjab Development Commission to deliberate on strategies for the ambitious clean energy project.

Aman Arora further shared that upon completion, the project is expected to generate approximately 390 Million Units (MU) of electricity annually. By implementing feeder level solarisation, it is forecasted to result in annual savings of roughly Rs. 136 crores and will be further scaled up in future.

This endeavour will attract investments around Rs. 1,056 Crore in the state, paving the way for the creation of job opportunities for both skilled and semi-skilled individuals in the realm of non-conventional energy within the State. Furthermore, it is poised to enhance agricultural output and rejuvenate the rural economy of the state, he added.

Punjab Development Commission Vice-Chairperson Ms. Seema Bansal, Secretary Power Mr. Rahul Tiwari, Secretary New & Renewable Energy Sources Mr. Ravi Bhagat, Chairman-cum-Managing Director Powercom Er. Baldev Singh Sran, Member PDC, Mr. Shoikat Roy, Director PEDA Mr. MP Singh and other senior officials of the both departments were also present?in?the?meeting.
(editor@dailyworld.in)