Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL), a joint venture of state-run firms under the power ministry, today signed an agreement with the Goa government to implement decentralised solar power projects in the state, a first initiative under the newly formed Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL).
Under the pact, EESL and the Department of New and Renewable Energy (DNRE) in Goa will carry out feasibility studies and implementation of decentralized solar energy projects including installation of 100 Megawatt decentralized ground-mounted solar power projects on government land to be used for agricultural pumping, replacing 6,300 agricultural pumps and distributing 16 lakh LED bulbs for rural domestic households.
The agreement was signed in the presence of power and new and renewable energy minister R K Singh and Goa's power minister Nilesh Cabral. "With this programme, Goa can avail 3 major benefits through reduced burden of subsidy, increased efficiency of products reducing power consumption and reduced burden on the environment," Singh said, adding with this initiative, along with the Kusum Scheme, Goa is set to become a "green state".
The projects are expected to accelerate the use of renewable energy, especially for agricultural and rural power consumption in the state, apart from contributing in reducing peak energy demand through deployment of energy-efficient pumping and lighting.
Convergence will install solar projects in a large scale programme utilizing vacant or unused land provided by the Gram Panchayats and the state electricity board. EESL said in a statement projects of capacity between 500 Kilowatt and 2 Megawatt will be installed near substations enabling DISCOMs to supply power during the day time and reduce transmission losses.
