State should tap renewable energy sources, says report

Gujarat has to develop adequate renewable energy resources to meet the galloping demand, said a report prepared by the nodal agency, Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA).

The state is facing severe energy shortages and the dwindling energy sources are unable to keep pace with demand that which is growing at the rate of 15 per cent. State's hydel potential is very limited and the thermal power plants are dependent on diminishing coal.

"The state has inadequate forest cover, serious problems of soil erosion and degradation, water-logging, expanding wastelands, water shortages, sinking water tables, salinity and salt ingression. On the positive side, Gujarat is rich in renewable energy sources, including 300 days of sunshine, good winds along the shore lines, a rich cattle population, scope for energy plantations in the wastelands, and waste-to-energy options that harness agro and industrial wastes," GEDA, said in its report.

The report that the renewable energy sources like bio-wastes, wind and solar sources should be tapped for power generation and electrify remote areas where conventional energy cannot be made available due to various constraints.

Gujarat Energy Development Agency has been instrumental in initiating various projects for the renewable energy resources, which includes, first joint sector windfarm in India set up at Mandvi with 1.10 MW capacity, Asia's largest windfarm with 10 MW capacity set up at Lamda near Porbandar (known as project Pavanshakti) and 6,000-sq m of solar pond at Bhuj, which is largest of its kind in Asia.

The report also mentioned that as much as 100 per cent subsidies were offered to the users in the initial demonstration phase. But gradually the users have weaned away from subsidies on devices for commercially ready technologies.

However 50 to 75 per cent subsidies are still available for community schemes and individual applications that need support to make them economically viable.

Some schemes such as Improved Chulhas and Solar Lanterns have been withdrawn as centrally supported subsidy programmes, and are proposed to be supported with the state subsidies.