Uttarakhand intends to create 1000 villages with solar power
A draught of the "Uttarakhand State Solar policy-2022" was released by the Uttarakhand energy department on November 18 of this year.
According to a government official familiar with the topic, Uttarakhand's new solar power policy calls for the development of 1000 solar-powered villages in order to make them self-sufficient. The idea was verified by R Meenakshi Sundaram, secretary for energy and unconventional energy, who added, "I can't disclose much about it since the new solar power policy is still being developed. Before it is presented to the cabinet, we will consult with the relevant departments and interested parties. The Uttarakhand energy department published a draught of the "Uttarakhand State Solar policy-2022" on November 18 of this year and invited feedback from the general public.
The Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA) will assist in the total solarization of 1000 villages around the state under the proposed programme. By incorporating solar into the rural economy, these solar villages hope to increase the security and quality of the power supply, increase rural revenue, reinforce education and health facilities, and create jobs. Not only at the state level but also at the federal level, these villages will act as models.According to a senior energy department official who wished to remain unnamed, "the solar villages will focus on interventions in four areas: powering villages through community solar installations, powering and enhancing institutional facilities, powering livelihood through decentralised productive appliances, and powering agriculture and agro-based MSMEs. According to him, the policy also encourages solar plus storage solutions in the designated solar villages to promote self-consumption.
He continued, "UREDA would assist skill development through current state training and skilling programmes, other pertinent central government programmes, and associated schemes, together with State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM), for building the service infrastructure at the local levels." The state has a potential for up to 2000 MW of solar energy, according to officials.
The draught policy estimates that of the total 2000 MW, 600 MW will be used for large projects, 250 for residential, 750 for commercial and industrial, 350 for institutions, and 50 for agricultural.
"The goal of the present solar policy is to hasten the deployment of solar energy through utility-scale projects. By 2022, the state will have attained around 575 MW under the present solar policy. In order to achieve its goals for jobs, growth, and sustainability moving forward, the state intends to fully utilise the potential of renewables, according to the preamble to the draught policy. According to the draught, Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) will establish rules requiring all parties and required consumers to purchase clean electricity from renewable energy sources at pre-set tariff rates, or "green tariff," and UERC will amend "green tariff" regulations to permit all electricity consumers to choose green energy.
According to the proposed policy, UREDA will create a land bank to make it easier to find, collect, develop, and allocate land for solar power plants.The Uttarakhand Solar Power Land Allotment Committee will oversee the land allocation procedure (USPLAC).
The state government will offer incentives to new manufacturing facilities if they choose solar energy, it was added. "The state government also wants to promote solar manufacturing facilities to boost economic growth and generate employment in the state."
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