Maharashtra can end power deficit: Centre

Maharashtra, which is facing a power shortage of about 4,000 Mw, could wipe out its electricity deficit in the next few years by using renewable energy, said Minister of State for Non-conventional Energy Sources, Vilas Muttemwar.

He also recommended setting preferential tariffs for renewable energy by state electricity regulatory commissions to promote non-conventional energy projects.

"Maharashtra has a generation potential of about 5,000 Mw from wind energy, and another 1500 Mw from bagasse cogeneration from 160-odd sugar factories. This can help meet its power requirement," Muttemwar said on the sidelines of a seminar on 'Distributed Generation' organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham).

The state currently generates only 280 Mw from wind energy. With more efficient use of electricity, energy conservation measures, and the use of conventional fuels like coal and gas, Maharashtra had the potential to become power surplus in future, he added.

Maharashtra has a total requirement of about 14,000 Mw but faces acute power shortage. Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh yesterday met power ministry officials asking for additional power from the central pool. He is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss the issue.

Muttemwar said he would also try to convince all states to stop the use of night billboards or switch to solar-powered panels to save electricity. Efforts to use solar energy for street lights were also being made, he said.

Emphasising the need for distributed power generation projects, he said decentralised grids using small hydel, wind, biomass, solar and diesel hybrid systems offered cost-effective solutions to meet the growing energy needs of the country.