Chandigarh, May 24:
In a bid to make Punjab front-runner state in non-conventional energy production across the country, Chief Minister S Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government will soon come up with Green Hydrogen Policy, said Punjab New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Mr Aman Arora here on Wednesday.
“Concerted efforts are also being made to increase the share of Renewable Energy upto 30% by 2030,” he said, while adding that the goal is to make every energy consumer a producer.
Addressing the 5th elets National Energy Summit, Mr Aman Arora emphasised that It’s high time to shift from the conventional power generation to renewable energy sources to save the Earth. He said that around 3200MW capacity renewable energy projects, including 2000 MW capacity of Solar Plants, have been installed, which is about 21% of the total installed capacity in Punjab. This share of Renewable Energy will be increased upto 30% by 2030 to meet national NDC and SDG targets.
The State Government has not been leaving any stone unturned to accomplish Net Zero Mission, he said, while adding that Punjab has a huge potential in renewable energy as over 20 million ton of paddy straw is produced every year and only 7-8 million ton is being managed through ex-situ and in-situ methods. Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has been striving hard to convert the paddy straw into an asset for farmers.
As many 43 Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects based on paddy straw and agriculture residue have already been allotted and Asia’s largest CBG plant of total capacity over 33TPD has been commissioned in Sangrur district. On completion, these projects will produce 515.58 TDP CBG, besides consuming two million ton paddy straw per annum, he added.
The Cabinet Minister also released a special issue of eGov magazine. He said that energy is a key sector for the growth and renewable energy can further supplement the growth of the state as renewable energy is the most cost effective and environment friendly source of power.
Chairman PEDA Sh H.S. Hanspal emphasised upon the need of adopting renewable energy and also on the importance of energy conservation and energy efficiency in the state to meet the gap between the demand and supply of power. He also stressed on the need to use power judiciously by adopting energy conservation & energy efficiency measures.
Chairman Punjab GENCO Ltd Mr Navjot Singh Mandair (Jarg) said that the summit will facilitate knowledge sharing and networking among industry players, policymakers and investors covering a wide range of topics including energy transition, green energy including solar, biomass, green hydrogen and also energy efficiency.
Additional Chief Secretary New & Renewable Energy Sources Mr. A. Venu Prasad gave the keynote address and appreciated the efforts made by PEDA in the ambitious goal to promote clean and green energy. He said that the summit will serve as a knowledge exchange platform for key stakeholders to discuss the challenges of the power sector, new trends and technologies in the power sector, green energy, climate mitigation, energy efficiencies and international best practice for providing safe, reliable, uninterrupted and green energy solutions.
Principal Secretary Power Mr Tejveer Singh said that sustainability, availability, affordability, quality and environment friendly power is the goal and renewable energy sector can achieve it.
Director PEDA Mr MP Singh highlighted the initiatives taken by the agency in both renewable and under energy conservation programs in the State. PEDA is currently setting up Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar Power Plants on the roofs of various Govt. buildings /Institutes under CAPEX Mode. The department is also in process of setting up of solar power plants under 100% RE city project.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Minister Mr Aman Arora also visited the Electronic vehicles and other stalls of the exhibition organised on the occasion.
Prominent amongst others present in the summit include British Deputy High Commissioner Ms. Caroline Rowett, Editor-in-chief eGov Magazine Dr Ravi Gupta, Senior Advisor GIZ Ms Nidhi Sarin and a large number of participants.
