Himachal targets to be first green energy state by 2025

Shimla: Aiming to preserve the environment of the Himachal Pradesh the government plans to make the hill state the first Green Energy State by the end of 2025.

By harnessing hydro, hydrogen and solar energy and switch on to green products which will enhance the premium and advantage in export. 

This was stated by the state Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu while presiding over a meeting of senior officers of Energy department, HPSEBL here.

He directed all the concerned departments including HPSEBL, HIMURJA, Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) and Department of Energy to initiate action in this direction and make policy changes.

He said refurbishing of the present system is essential and the departments should focus on harnessing green energy in the best interest of the state.

To ease the norms Sukhu directed the officers to make necessary amendments in the existing power policy and open all the solar projects upto 5 MW capacity for allotment.

The state plans to invest in solar plants and will install 500 MW Solar projects during the year 2023-24, out of this, 200 MW would be installed by HPPCL for which land has been identified for 70 MW capacity and the rest of the sites will be finalised soon.

Solar project upto 150 MW capacity will be installed by HIMURJA through private participation and priority would be given to locals in awarding the these projects.The capacity of the projects will range from 250 KW to 1 MW.

Sukhu directed HIMURJA to evolve a mechanism by seeking royalty of solar projects above 3 MW capacity. In case of land being given to PSUs for developing solar projects, some percentage of land equity may be charged as well.

He also directed HIMURJA to ensure 5 percent premium for the state in each solar power project up to 5 MW and 10 percent share in the solar power projects of more than 5 MW capacity.

The Chief Minister asked HPPCL to expedite the incomplete power projects like Kashang II and III, Shongtong and Karchham. He stressed the need for fixing the timeline for each project and complete all these projects by 2025.

Sukhu directed the HPPCL to appoint a consultant for the preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) within 10 days and also to submit the report within a month so that the work on the Solar projects could be started.

The Department of Energy and HPPCL will identify sites in other states including Rajastha where cheap land is available for installation of Mega Solar Plant.