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Haryana plans solar energy for cities

Special Correspondent

10 p. c. of the total capacity addition to be generated through renewable energy based projects

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) has approved a new programme relating to use of solar energy for urban projects and finalised the memorandum of undertaking for setting up of biomass based power projects, small hydro power projects and wind power projects in the State.

These decisions were taken in the meeting of the Board of Governors held here on Thursday under the chairmanship of the Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Renewable Energy Department and Chairman HAREDA, S.C. Choudhary.

It was decided to involve private and public sector in the setting up of renewable energy based power projects in the State. The policy aims at achieving a minimum of 10 per cent of the total capacity addition of 5,000 MW of conventional power to be generated through renewable energy based power projects by 2012. HAREDAproposes to generate 1,400 MW power through biomass and harness 45 MW power which could be generated through waterfalls.

It would also set up wind monitoring stations at Panchkula, Gurgaon and Mahendergarh to tap wind energy available in the Morni Hills and Aravali Hills of the State. It is also promoting the use of compact florescent lamps to save energy.

The Board also approved the raised plan outlay of Rs. 400 lakhs for HAREDA.

The Director, Renewable Energy Department, Sumita Misra, said that HAREDA would equip 300 Navjeevan Grehs, to be set up by the Health Department, with solar water heating systems.

In the first phase, 150 Navjeevan Grehs in the districts of Ambala, Fatehabad, Mewat, Jind, Mahendergarh, Rewari, Rohtak, Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar would be covered.

She revealed that about 45 per cent of the total power consumption in the State was in agriculture sector and most of the farmers were using inefficient non-ISI marked pump sets which consumed more electricity and delivered less output.

By effecting minor or major rectifications and shifting to ISI marked pumps, about 25 to 35 per cent of power could be saved. As there were about five lakh pump sets, there was a potential to save about 45.68 MW of electricity. During the current year, 1,530 farmers would be given subsidy ranging from Rs. 1,000 to 2,500 for installing ISI marked motors.

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