With an aim to boost the use of solar energy in the state, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu urged residents to generate and utilise solar power considering the state's favourable weather conditions for optimal results.
"Educate the public about the benefits of solar power and achieve the solarisation targets," Naidu said in an official press release. He explained that the consumers who install solar power systems on their rooftops would not only receive "free power" but also earn additional income by selling the excess energy they would generate in the process.
To further encourage this transition, Naidu requested officials to educate the public about central schemes such as PM-Surya Ghar and PM-KUSUM, which support solar energy adoption across the country.
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What Is Solar Power?
Solar power is conversion of energy from the sun into thermal or electrical power. Both thermal power and electrical power are produced using solar panels, which range in size from residential rooftops to 'solar farms' spread over acres of rural land.
Solar power can be used for various applications including production of electricity, provision of light or a comfortable interior environment and heating water for domestic, commercial or industrial use.
How Is Solar Power Relevant in Andhra Pradesh?
Andhra Pradesh with its 300 sunny days in a year and solar inslolation of more than 5 kWh/m2/day, is a perfect location for solar energy production. The state possesses significant untapped renewable energy potential with solar, wind and pumped hydro having 38.4 GW, 44.3 GW (at 100m height) and 33.2 GW respectively, as per Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board.
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Andhra Pradesh has set a target of implementing the PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana scheme in 30 lakh households, offering subsidies of up to Rs 78,000 for installing a 3-kilowatt solar power system, which costs up to Rs 1.45 lakh, officials informed CM Naidu as per the PTI report.
Surya Ghar scheme has received over 70,000 applications with solar panels already installed on 4,961 rooftops. In Kuppam constituency, which serves as a pilot project for solarisation, 50,312 households have agreed to adopt solar power, officials said.
Moreover, installing solar panels in all government offices could help the state save nearly Rs 379 crore in electricity bills. A total of 2,186 government offices have been identified for solar panel installation, costing Rs 262 crore and generating over 2.62 lakh kilowatts of power. The project will be executed by NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd (NVVN), according to the press release.
In addition to these initiatives, Andhra Pradesh aims to establish 132 villages as “solar villages,” where every household will generate solar power.
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