Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
* Majithia offers every possible support to french companies for solar and biomass projects
* France minister evinces keen interest in becoming partner in Punjab’s solar and biomass power initiatives
Chandigarh, Punjab is all set to make rapid strides in achieving “Mission 2500 mw” renewable power generation with France pledging to become a partner in solar and biomass power sector in the State providing world class technologies along with investment by major French renewable energy companies.
Speaking at a special function organized at New Delhi yesterday late evening to inaugurate Punjab Solar Park , a 21 MW Solar Power Project set up by Solairdirect Energy india Ltd with an investment of Rs. 151 crore in villageMuradwala Dal Singh in Fazilka district by Mrs. Segolene Royal, Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, France, Punjab Non Conventional Energy Minister Mr. Bikram SinghMajithia revealed that the Punjab government had set an ambitious target to generate 2500 MW power from renewable sources with special emphasis on Solar and Biomass based power projects. He said that the State had achieved rapid strides on solar as well as biomass fronts as it was set to generate 250 MW solar powers by March this year. He said 62.5 MW Biomass power projects were already generating power and biomass projects of 155 MW were in various stages of completion.
Mr Majithia informed that Punjab had always led the country on every opportunity. He said the State was also in line to set up Asia’s first ever Bio-ethanol refinery and 5 similar projects having joint investment potential of 1 Billion USD. He said the world’s largest cow dung based Bio-CNG plant of 10,000 cu.mtr. capacity was being set-up at Haebowal bio-methanation plant, Ludhiana and it would be commissioned by the end of next month. Two more plants were being set up in Ludhiana and Jalandhar and would be operational by end of this year, he disclosed.
The Minister disclosed that he personally monitored each project and number of renewable energy projects had started generating power before their scheduled completion time. He said 21 MW solar power project of a French company Solairdirect Energy india Ltd was just a beginning and many more such projects would follow soon. He said an investment of Rs. 151 Crore by a world renowned French company, that too on the Punjab border; itself spoke of the facilitation extended by the Punjabgovernment.
The Minister said the state had identified a potential of 600 MW Solar Roof top power and bids have been invited on the basis of reverse tariff for 100 MW projects. He said that World’s largest single Rooftop Solar PV plant of capacity 7.52 MW had been set-up at Beas, Amritsar and its capacity was being increased to 35 MW. He said the under the State’s Net-metering policy, 200MW projects would be set-up on 1 Lac homes in the next 3 years.
Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Segolene Royal, Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, France appreciated the initiatives of Punjab governmentand promised to provide latest technologies along with investment by French companies. She said France had 13.5 % share in world’s total renewable power generation and set a target to increase it to 23 % by 2020. She said not only solar,France will guide Punjab in harnessing Biomass potential as It was an agricultural state with availability of huge agri residue. She also promised to visit Punjab for foundation stone laying ceremony of French Company Solairdirect Energy india Pvt. Ltd’s next renewable venture in the state.
Mr. Gaurav Sood, MD, Solairdirect Energy india Pvt. Ltd said that their company was very impressed with proactive approach and facilitation being done by Stategovernment and PEDA in implementing their 21 MW solar power project in village Muradwala Dal Singh in Fazilka district and has also made a bid for 54 MW in 2nd phase.
