Steps afoot for Green Telangana

• Four integrated solar power parks to come up across the State
• Efforts on to bring a Chinese firm to State
• Govt urged to set up solar power projects

Hyderabad: The Telangana government is taking all measures to tap the solar power potential in the State.

Addressing the inaugural function of three-day workshop on ‘Solar Photovoltaic Training Programme’ here on Monday, Industries Commissioner Jayesh Ranjan said steps were being taken to establish four integrated solar power parks across the State. He said that the proposed solar parks would open up new employment opportunities, especially for electrical engineers and others who completed allied courses. He said the Chinese firm TRINA, the world's largest solar power company, has expressed its interest in setting up its unit in India. Therefore, efforts are being made to bring the unit to Telangana by offering all the facilities. He said that the company proposed to manufacture solar panels and photovoltaic in the new unit which are now being imported from China.

Jayesh Ranjan said that India has set a target of producing 175,000 MW of Renewable Energy, which includes 1 lakh MW of solar power. He said the coal subsidy has been doubled in order to achieve clean energy. In the next five years, the solar energy industry would cross the business of US $ 160 billion.

Speaking at the workshop, TS Genco & Transco Chairman and Managing Director D Prabhakar Rao informed that the Telangana is presently producing 4,365 MW of power. However, the solar power is just about 1 MW. He said as per the new norms, the component of solar energy in total production should be at least five per cent. He said that the State Government should take immediate steps to establish the solar power projects in the State.

Prabhakar Rao said that the advancement in technologies has reduced the cost of solar power production from Rs 13 crore per MW in the past to Rs 6 crore per MW now. He said the cost would come down further in near future.

He also claimed that the Telangana would be self-reliant in energy section by 2017-18 and by 2019, the Telangana State would be in a position to sell surplus power to other States.

Osmania University Registrar Prof E Suresh Kumar and UCE (OU) Principal Prof S Ramchandram also spoke.