The state government has announced Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Policy 2012, envisaging generation of 1,000 Mw of solar power each year from 2013 to 2015, setting up of solar energy parks along with incentives for solar power producers and equipment manufacturers.
With the aim to generate 3,000 Mw of solar power in the next three years, it has also made rooftop solar panels mandatory for new buildings of government and local bodies.
Under the policy, the government would support domestic consumers, who propose to install solar panels on rooftop of their buildings. Big industries and customers of high tension electricity should utilise a certain per centage of their power consumption from solar energy, chief minister J Jayalalithaa stated in a release.
For solar power producers, the government would offer facilities like net metering, which would help them in connecting to the grid, exemption from power charges and power cut.
Existing government and local body buildings would have rooftop solar panels. Street lights and drinking water distribution mechanisms would also be shifted to solar power managed in gradual steps, the release added.