Future of Solar Power: Reducing Tariffs and Enhancing Capacity in the State

With the technological advancements made in solar power generation and financial engineering, the tariff of solar power is expected to come down to Rs 5.50 per unit in the state thus equalling to that of the new thermal power tariff. Hence, it is high time for the state government, power utilities, industries and all the stakeholders to take possible steps to develop solar power to the maximum extent and to enhance the state's power generating capacity, to meet the ever growing power demand of the consumers.

While delivering his key-note lecture during the inaugural session of two-day national level conference on 'Strategies for Energy Security', organised by the Institute of Engineers India (IEI), on the occasion of the 112th birth day of Padmabhushan Dr K L Rao, A K Kutty, former CMD of APTRANSCO & former Joint Secretary (Energy, GoI), stressed that keeping the limitations that are being faced by the state in tapping energy from conventional sources like coal, water, natural gas and renewable sources like wind, the state has no other option, but to chalk out plans to tap solar power to the maximum extent.

The state, with an impressive generation capacity of about 16,434 MW has per capita power consumption of about 1,019 KWH per annum which is an index of economic growth, is also much above the national average of 879 KWH.