The Karnataka government has set a target of adding 1,000
MW of solar power to the State grid within 15 months, according to
Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Tenders will be
called within a week for setting up solar plants with a total capacity
of 450 MW, the Minister said at a press conference, here on Thursday,
convened to announce that the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of
Commerce and Industry would hold Green Summit–2014 from June 5 to 7 to
showcase investment opportunities in the State’s renewable energy
sector.
Of the targeted 1,000-MW capacity, about 300
MW would be earmarked for farmers by encouraging them to set up small
plants with a capacity of 1 to 3 MW on their farmland. In addition to
this, farmers would also be given the option of forming a group and
leasing out their land to solar power developers through the government
for setting up “solar farms”. The government would not only protect the
land ownership of such farmers, but also ensure that they get
remunerative rents through cheques, he said.
In the
process, the curbs on buying farmland would be lifted for those setting
up solar plants, he said. Similarly, the process of converting the
land-use pattern would also be simplified for solar plant developers by
providing a “deemed conversion” facility for them soon after they buy
the farmland for setting up solar plants, Mr. Shivakumar said.
Pointing
out that the revised solar energy policy had set the stage ready for
encouraging individuals and companies to set up grid-connected rooftop
solar units, he said electricity supply companies (Escoms) had been told
to buy power from all such rooftop solar units by paying the tariff of
Rs. 7.20 a unit for those who have availed of subsidy from the Union
government and Rs. 9.20 for the non-subsidised ones.
“Even
those having a house on a 30X40 ft site can set up a solar plant on
their rooftop and sell the excess power, which is left after taking care
of their own requirements, to Escoms. They would have to install a
two-way meter which would measure the flow of power in both the
directions,” he said.
The Minister said the rooftop
solar plants would be promoted in a big way in Bangalore to turn it into
the country’s solar city. The solar rooftops would be exempted from the
norms related to floor area ratio (FAR), he said.
Source THE HINDU
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