Ambitious Tamil Nadu State Solar Policy

Dear All,

Hope its sunny side up for you out there and if not here is the news to be happy for.

Indian state of Tamil Nadu offers an ambitious 3000MWp of Photovoltaic solar power projects development in their state by 2015.

As per the new solar energy policy, the state will mandate 6% solar purchase obligation for all colleges and residential schools, IT parks, telecom towers, industries guaranteed with 24-hour power supply, special economic zones (SEZ) and buildings with a built up area of 20,000sqm or more.
Till December 2013, high-tension consumers will have to ensure that 3% of their energy consumption is through solar energy. This will be increased to 6% from January 2014.
Domestic consumers, huts, cottage and tiny industries, powerlooms, low-tension industrial consumers and agricultural consumers have been exempted from the solar purchase obligation.

This is part of the 'Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Policy 2012' that chief minister J Jayalalitha. With the state reeling under acute power crisis. It is aimed at generating 3,000MW of solar power by 2015. Apart from encouraging indigenous solar manufacturing facilities with incentives, the policy aims at promoting research and development in the sector and hybrid systems, besides creating skilled manpower and jobs.

Out of which 1500MWp. 1000 will be generated through Solar Purchase Obligation (SPO) and remaining 500MWp through generation based income.The policy also promotes solar rooftops in domestic and other government buildings. The state government, in all its new buildings, will provide solar rooftops, while all existing buildings will be provided solar panels in a phased manner.
The government would also energize more than 1lakh street lights through solar energy by 2015-16, and water supply installations in local bodies will be energized through solar power in a phased manner. Solar parks with a capacity of 50MW each will be developed in 24 districts across the state.

This new policy was aimed at making Tamil Nadu a frontrunner in the solar power generation.
If this completely gets executed in a phased manner then TN would be one of the largest solar power producing states in India.

Till then have a sunny time....