Many commercial establishments are now switching to solar solutions for their captive power needs

Rising petroleum prices are expected to benefit renewable energy solution providers as commercial establishments that use diesel generator sets for their captive requirements may find solar power attractive. The city gas distribution (CGD) players too expect commercial establishments to switch from diesel to piped natural gas in the areas where power supply is unreliable.

Jaipur: For a state considered a frontrunner in the solar energy sector, Rajasthan is falling behind in the ‘race for the sun’.

In a bid to promote solar power generation in a big way, the Odisha government has decided to finalise a comprehensive solar policy in two months.

The department of science & technology, which is finalizing the policy, has targeted solar power production of 80 Mw in three years. “We had discussions with the chief secretary regarding the solar power policy. The policy is set to be finalised within two months. We are also going to come out with Vision 2020 for the renewable energy sector by that time. In the next one year, solar power production in the state is expected to reach 50 MW and we hope to scale it up to 80 MW in the next three years,” said D N Gupta, secretary (science & technology).

Solar energy would not only power lamps but would also ensure drinking water in the Maoist-infested pockets in Chhattisgarh.

The state government had selected 1722 hamlets where water pumps operated by the solar energy would be installed to provide pure drinking water to the people. The hamlets are across the 10 districts of the state; mostly in the red zone. A high level meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary, Sunil Kumar on Tuesday approved the proposal for the installing solar energy water pumps. This would in fact be a New Year gift for the people in the insurgency hit areas of the state.

Jaipur: Buoyed by the success of solar water pumps in the first phase, the state government is set to roll out a number of such pumps in the next phase.

With farmers able to save electricity and fuel in as many as 14 districts, the state horticulture department will be distributing 3,000 solar water pumps across the state. “We are planning distribute the pumps by the end of the February. The department has already invited expressions of interest from solar pump set manufacturers. Around 12 manufacturers have been shortlisted to supply solar pump

The Punjab government has decided to explore the possibility of developing solar power clusters to energize agri-pumps in rural areas besides setting up of solar panels on canals and roof tops of big buildings.

Presiding over a meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal pointed out that the state government was spending a huge amount on providing free power for agri-pumps in the state. He said that there was a large scope for development of solar power clusters in the rural areas to provide power for agri-pumps directly thereby cutting the subsidy and further investing the saved money for production of clean energy. He said that by producing 1000 MW clean power Punjab can earn lot of Carbon Credits besides saving on subsidy.

Project at Poojappura penal complex set up at a cost of Rs.7.9 crore

Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will inaugurate a solar-energy project and a new restroom for visitors at the Central Jail, Poojappura, here on Wednesday. A press release issued on Tuesday said the solar energy scheme would make the department the first one in the country to depend entirely on this clean and renewable source of energy.

Power distribution company BYPL is installing renewable energy assisted pumps (REAP) to provide clean drinking water to thousands of students studying in government schools in East Delhi.

The installation has already been carried out in four government schools -- the Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya (Seemapuri), Raja Ravi Verma Sarvodaya Baal/ anya Vidyalaya (Nandnagri), Government Senior Secondary School No-1,(Shahdara) and Government Senior Secondary School No-2 (Shahdara), will be extended to other schools in the area.