Telangana to release wind power policy soon: Jagadish Reddy
Telangana is one of the leading States in India to adopt mandatory Energy Conservation Building Code
Hyderabad: The Minister for Power G Jagadish Reddy said Telangana, in line with the emphasis laid globally and nationally on the use of renewable energy, will add over 1,000 MW of solar capacity to its power generation by the end of 2018.
Addressing the conference of Power and Renewable Energy Ministers in New Delhi on Thursday, he said the installed capacity of solar power generation at present was 2,963 MW and would touch 5,000 MW by 2019-20. “Solar power generation in TS would be among the highest in the country,” he said.
He said the State would pursue renewable capacity additions which would enable it to be at the forefront of renewable energy generation. The government would release wind power policy soon. With regard to solar roof-tops, about 25 MW capacity had been released till date by TS Discoms which was amongst the highest in State utilities.
Stating that the government was giving equal importance to energy efficiency and conservation measures, Reddy said TS government was also planning to replace the existing inefficient street lights with LED bulbs and provide solar power to cater to at least 15-20 per cent of street lights.
The State intends to take up LED-based street lights in 8,000 villages along with Central Control Monitoring System. The Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation (TS Redco) was coordinating with the Panchayat Raj Department for effective implementation of this programme, he said.
Telangana is one of the leading States in India to adopt mandatory Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) and the first in the country to incorporate the mandatory compliance through online building approval system.
TS Redco, as the State designated agency, established ECBC cell which was working closely with the R & B Department and other Urban Local Bodies for code implementation. TS Redco was working to strengthen all the energy conservation activities in the State.
The Minister recalled that at the time of formation of the State, it faced severe power crisis, with total contracted capacity of power just 6,889 MW. “The government took immediate steps to ensure a regime of uninterrupted power supply within six months. The current contracted capacity of the State including the share from Central generation stations and others stands at 13,773 MW,” he said.
As part of the initiative to provide uninterrupted power to all consumers over the coming years, a massive capacity expansion plan of 12,840 MW for next three years had been planned. Of this, 2,130 MW had already been commissioned, he said.
The Minister said the State power utilities were able to meet the highest peak demand of 9,500 MW recorded on Sept 13, 2017. “They are now fully geared to meet the maximum forecast demand of 11,000 MW during the coming Yasangi season,” he said.
The government is planning to provide round-the-clock power supply to 22.6 lakh agriculture pump sets soon, Reddy said, adding that all the pending 1,17,277 agricultural connections had been released during 2016-17. In the last three and half years, 3.46 lakh agricultural services were given at cost of Rs 1,745 crores, he said.
Source: telanganatoday
