PANAJI
Though moving at a snail pace with solar power generation of 0.058 Gigawatt (GW) as on date, Goa has a potential to produce over 10 GW of green energy, of which 90 per cent can be through ground mounted solar panels.
According to the draft research report prepared by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), a feasibility study undertaken reveals that the State can generate 9.07 GW of power through ground mounted solar panels in a wasteland area of 65.02 sq kms.
Similarly, the rooftop solar project can help generate around 0.14GW of green energy and another 0.39GW through floating solar panels.
Goa’s power requirement as of now is 663.3 megawatts, of which 559.9 megawatts are being procured from thermal power sources, 61.6 megawatts from renewable energy sources, and 41.6 megawatts from nuclear sources.
Currently, the State has witnessed a notable surge in rooftop solar installations with production of 53MW of green energy as on date- which is more than 90 per cent of the State’s total solar power generation which stands at 58MW.
Currently, around 400 to 500 consumers have installed rooftops under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana while close to 5000 applications are under scrutiny.
The State has sought a proposal from the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) for installation of a 336 MW solar power plant on the irrigation canal top and canal side- under the wasteland proposal.
However, as far as the floating solar panel project is concerned, the government has kept on hold to generate around 197 MW of renewable energy through dams.
A central agency had proposed to generate solar power by setting up four floating solar projects across dams -- Selaulim, Amthanem, Anjunem and Chapoli dams; but the same has been kept in abeyance citing feasibility.
