Meghalaya aims at equipping 30-40 per cent households with solar units that will give eight to nine hours of backup during load shedding.
This was stated by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma during the launch of the Solar Mission here today. He said such households will gain independence from the conventional grid.
Terming that the launch of the mission marks a significant stride forward in the government’s journey towards tackling power challenges, he however said, this will not completely eradicate issues.
The Chief Minister said that the mission is a flagship renewable energy intervention, which is a people centric scheme with poorest of the poor as the target beneficiary but at the same time diverse options are available on table for every strata of the society. He said the loan component will be soft loans with EMI comparable or lesser than a small household monthly electricity bill.
“The government subsidy will range from 70 per cent for individual households to 50 per cent subsidy for schools, hospitals, hotels and other commercial entities”, he said.
Pointing out that the mission represents a paradigm shift by blending cutting-edge technology with innovative financing models he said the government wants to popularise renewable energy to address current challenges. “We have to tap into what is available so abundantly and for free, the sun light. In order to achieve this we have worked out a financial model in which a beneficiary has to pay only 10 per cent of the cost of the equipment at the time of availing the scheme.
He informed that the government will earmark investment of Rs 100 crore annually for the solar mission initially and once the program gains momentum, more partners will be invited to diversify the portfolio of funding. This can come from corporate social responsibility (CSR) or carbon credits or investment by likeminded organisations from across the world, he added.
He further said that the government will adopt the hybrid solar inverter technology, which he stated will prove to be a game-changer, which will drive the state closer to the sustainable future.
The hybrid solar inverter has the flexibility of charging through conventional residential power connection as well as solar power. The unit will preferably charge from solar energy and switch to normal grid connectivity for charging only when there is inadequate sunlight.
“The technology is such that it can charge even on cloudy days. This way the technology can significantly reduce the electricity bill of every home. In fact, the higher capacity hybrid solar inverter system can turn your house as a net power generator which can be fed to a local grid and then the national grid through net metering such that some day we can achieve an installed capacity equal to the current installed capacity of the State,” the Chief Minister said.
He also announced the establishment of LED assembling units across the state. “This home-grown production initiative not only generates employment opportunities for our youth but also advances our self-reliance. Additionally, discussions with battery manufacturers are underway to establish battery production and maintenance facilities within Meghalaya. This strategic move aims to minimize challenges associated with battery replacement and maintenance, further solidifying our commitment to sustainability”, he added.
Power Minister AT Mondal highlighted THE problems related to power as Meghalaya largely depends on hydro power for generation of electricity.
Other who spoke on the occasion were Chairman MNREDA Rupert Momin and Secretary Power Department Joram Beda.
CM SOLAR MISSION HIGHLIGHTS
– Subsidized Solar Hybrid Inverters and Solar Water Heaters for all citizens.
– Solar inverter capacities from 500 VA to 40 kVA for households, institutions and businesses.
– Integration of solar systems with the main grid through net metering, transforming homes into power sources and reducing electricity bills.
– Subsidized solar water heaters to provide hot water without relying on electricity.
