Dr. Farooq Abdullah inaugurates Rooftop Solar Power Plants in Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH, (KMW News):- Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah inaugurated a 50 KWp solar photovoltaic power plant on the rooftop of Paryavaran Bhawan, Chandigarh. The cost of the Power Plant is Rs.90.40 lac (50% contribution from Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India) with 10 years Operation and Maintenance. The plant will be able to generate 65,000 units of electricity per year.He also inaugurated a 100 KWp solar photovoltaic power plant on the rooftop of Model Central Jail, Burail, Chandigarh. The cost of the Power Plant is Rs.143 lac (50% contribution from MNRE, Govt. of India) with 10 years Operation and Maintenance. This plant will be able to generate 1,30,000 units of electricity per year.
These rooftop power plants are coming up as a part of the solar city programme of Government of India under which 54 cities have been selected to become solar cities in the country. Chandigarh is one of these solar cities. Chandigarh has a plan to cover almost all Government buildings with solar rooftop power plants so that each building is able to generate a part of its power requirement through its own power plant thereby reducing the demand of electricity and using more and more of clean energy. Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has already sanctioned projects to cover 30 Government buildings in Chandigarh, which will generate 3 MWp of solar power.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah had a meeting with Shri Shivraj Patil, Governor of Punjab and Administration of UT, Chandigarh. During the meeting, it was decided that efforts will be made to cover all the Government buildings in Chandigarh with solar power plants and solar water heaters. Private building owners would also be encouraged to set up solar rooftops. These power plants would be connected with the grid so that surplus power can be fed into the grid.
Dr. Abdullah also had a meeting with Chief Minister of Punjab, Shri Parkash Singh Badal. Various programmes for promotion of renewable energy were discussed. Dr. Abdullah appreciated the efforts of Punjab for setting up of 250 MW of solar power plants in Punjab and its plants plans to set up more biomass based power plants in the State. He requested the Chief Minister, Punjab to encourage use of solar powered pumps for irrigation as this would help in providing irrigation water to the farmers during day time and save electricity. He also requested that solar based steam cooking systems should be installed in all the religious institutions in the State. A very good beginning is being made with the installation of such a system in Golden Temple, Amritsar. Dr. Abdullah informed that it is proposed to add 30000 MW of grid connected renewable power during the current Five Year Plan and also encourage off-grid applications of renewable energy in a big way.