PANAJI
Goa is witnessing a significant growth in solar power generation, with its installed capacity increasing almost seventeen times since 2019, when the State launched its solar mission.
In the last six years (till September 2024), the State has generated 168.21 million units of green energy, with an annual rise.
From generating just 4.46 million units of power in 2019, to achieving 69.35 million units of power by 2023- 2024 to, the State has made rapid growth. In the current financial year, the total solar generation is 28.59 million units till September end.
The number of solar connections in the State up to October is 1,566 with total installed capacity of 65.86 megawatts and total power generation of 168.21 million units.
According to the Goa State Energy Vision 2050, the State aims to generate 150 megawatts of renewable power by 2030. The State intends to become the first in the country to run on 100 per cent renewable energy by 2050.
As per data, State generated 4.46 million units of solar power in 2019-20, which went up to 12.65 million units in 2020-21 and further witnessed marginal jump to 16.03 million units in the subsequent year.
In 2022-23, the power generation was more than the double and touched 36.13 million units, which further witnessed massive jump in 2023-24 (69.35 million units).
As per data, the State’s power demand at present is 540 megawatt per day and it touches 750 megawatts per day during the peak hour.
The State government had in February 2019, notified the Goa State Solar Policy and was subsequently amended in August 2020.
There are 998 residential solar rooftops, 193 commercial and 84 industrial installations while there are 16 in other categories.
State’s ambitious ‘Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevjan’ scheme -- an initiative aligned with the Prime Minister’s Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana – is also getting huge response, with the government receiving close to 4000 applications for rooftop solar installations, within just four months since its launch.
The scheme encourages free rooftop solar installation up to 5kW for household users who consume 400 units or less per year. Apart from the Centre’s total outlay of Rs 75,000 crore, Goa government, with an initial investment of Rs 35 crore, will bear the entire cost of installation till 2026-27.
