MNRE includes Punjab in ambitious 'Green Corridor' project

Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has agreed to include Punjab in the ambitious “Green Corridor Mission” project on the request of minister of new and renewable energy of Punjab, Bikram Singh Majithia. 

Punjab will now be in line to receive funds for further strengthening of its transmission and distribution infrastructure to ensure efficient evacuation of solar power to the central grid. 

Besides this, the Union Ministry has also announced a major roof top solar power pilot project to demonstrate as well as encourage people to set their own solar power roof top projects to successfully implement the net metering policy of the state. 

These decisions were conveyed by Upendra Tripathy, secretary, MNRE at the first regional meet held at CII under the chairmanship of Bikram Singh Majithia for implementation of commitments made in India's first global renewable meet RE-Invest 2015.

Majithia said after the successful implementation of 240 MW solar power projects in the state; Punjab has taken a major initiative by offering 65 MW rooftop solar power projects in a single bid. He said the state had the world’s biggest single rooftop project of 7.5 MW in Dera Beas and that it was being further upgraded to 31.5 MW in next few months. 

"Punjab had also started a unique net metering policy to encourage residents to install rooftop solar projects for domestic use selling power to the State grid. The state has also decided in principle to waive off wheeling charges for power produced from renewable resources and a cabinet nod would be taken soon for this purpose," said Majithia.