Goa

Through its newly formed subsidiary Convergence Energy Services Limited (Convergence), the Energy Efficiency Services Limited will implement ground-mounted solar power plants—in sizes of 500 kW to 2 MW—on vacant/unused land provided by the Gram Panchayats or electricity board in the state. 

Program aims to drive down the cost of solar electricity to a maximum of Rs2.50/kWh in a nation where tariffs vary wildly from state to state.

State energy minister Nilesh Cabral says householders will be offered the chance to reduce energy bills without any upfront cost by leasing roofspace to installers as part of plans to add 15 MW of solar capacity in Goa by March.

The state bus company had originally sought central government funding for 250 vehicles but was given the green light for the smaller figure. A pre-bid meeting related to the tender is planned on Friday.

With the power minister hinting a new renewable energy tariff policy could be in the works, the federal agency responsible for solar – which has come under fire after the latest delay to a troubled PV manufacturing tender – has boasted of the volume of clean power it has signed deals for recently.

The chargers will be set up in six cities (Agra, Bengaluru, Goa, Hyderabad, Ranchi, Shimla) and along Delhi-Jaipur-Agra-Delhi and Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai highways.

The success of the e-bike cycling tours – which operate out of recycled shipping container ‘e hubs’ – looks set to be replicated in four more states in short order.

Subsidies from central and state bodies will help photovoltaics get within reach of similarly sponsored conventional electricity, which begs the question, why not remove subsidies for both?