Punjab State Power Corporation Limited in a press release informed that under the able guidance of Hon’ble CM Punjab Shri Bhagwant Singh Maan, Shri Harbhajan Singh Hon’ble Power Minister Punjab and Shri Aman Arora Hon’ble NRES Minister Punjab, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has undertaken significant initiatives in the New and Renewable Energy sector. It stated that these efforts are primarily aimed at enhancing the state's Rooftop Solar capacity, empowering residential and non-residential consumers to generate their own electricity and contribute to a sustainable energy future.
According to the PSPCL Spokesperson, Shri Prahlad Joshi Hon’ble Cabinet Minister (New & Renewable Energy), Govt. of India chaired a regional workshop of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and J&K states which was held at ITC Rajputana in Jaipur on January 21 this year. Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma, Chief Minister Rajasthan and NRSE Ministers of the States of Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal and J&K were also present on the occasion.
A range of pivotal renewable energy topics like PM KUSUM Scheme, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, RPO targets etc. were discussed in the workshop. On this occasion, performance of the participating states in roof top solar adoption was also discussed. During the workshop Hon’ble Cabinet Minister awarded a cheque of Rs.11.39 Crores which was received by Shri Ajoy Kumar Sinha, Principal Secretary/Power, Govt. of Punjab and S.Baldev Singh Sran, CMD/PSPCL, as an incentive for commendable and significant efforts of PSPCL in promoting roof top solar adoption in the state of Punjab under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana for the year 2022-23 in which PSPCL has added 60.51 MW in its roof top solar basket that will approximately generate 2.4 Lac units of green energy daily.
During the meeting Punjab sought reduction of the high trading margin of 7 paise per unit charged by Central PSUs who have been appointed as trading licensees for promoting RE Power by the union government. Further, enhancement of motor capacity from 7.5 HP to 15 HP with Central finance assistance under PM KUSUM Scheme was also sought.
To solve the environment issue created by paddy straw stubble burning, Punjab also sought central financial assistance for biomass (Paddy straw) based power projects for viability gap funding in the range of Rs 5 crore per MW to facilitate economic feasibility of these projects as is being done by GoI for Compressed Biogas plants based on paddy straw.
At the end, the spokesperson said that PSPCL is committed to further enhance its renewable energy capacity to ensure a sustainable future for the State.