Maharashtra government to set up solar panels above irrigation canals

In an innovative move to overcome the resistance of locals for land acquisition and harness the state's solar energy potential to the optimum, Maharashtra's new renewable energy policy has paved the way for installation of solar panels on irrigation canals. The move will also reduce evaporation of water from the canals and thus benefit end-users, like farmers.

The state government is working on a net metering policy to enable people, including householders who set up captive solar projects, to sell surplus energy to the state power distribution utility and also on energy conservation and off-grid renewable energy policies.

The state's new and renewable energy policy, which was approved by the Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday, aims at creating 14,400 MW of fresh grid-connected installed capacity in the sector by 2019-20. This includes 7,500 MW from solar energy; wind energy and baggase-based co-generation will contribute 5,000 MW and 1,000 MW, respectively. Small hydropower projects, with a capacity of 5 MW and less, will make up for 400 MW, and 300 MW is proposed to be generated from industrial waste and 200 MW from biomass. Energy minister Chandrashekhar Bavankule said the policy will entail investments of Rs1 lakh crore and generate jobs.

Of the 7,500 MW solar energy target, 5,000 MW will be for captive consumption for industries to meet their needs, with a provision for open access and third-party sale thrown in, the remaining 2,500 MW will be developed by the MahaGenco through private parties.

"Of these 2,500 MW, around 10% projects will be developed on canals," said a senior official, adding that a revenue-sharing model would be evolved with the water resources department.

This will be on the lines of canal top solar projects developed on the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited's canals in Gujarat which use grid-connected solar photovoltaic panels.

"The water resources department and users will also benefit in terms of lesser evaporation loss of water. We will also gain as we will be able to add green energy to meet the renewable purchase obligations (RPOs) (set by regulators who specify that a certain quantum of power has to be sourced from renewables) and will also get easily available land, including those on the shoulders of the canal," the official said.

The state is also planning to allow wind energy developers to technologically upgrade their projects for better generation. These improvements will enable better generation of wind power even at low velocities, the official said.

"Though wind energy is a clean energy source, it cannot be scheduled and forecast. It is generated at night and during monsoon, when the power demand is not that high. We need renewable energy management centres like they have abroad," the official added.

Like solar energy, industries will also get to generate 3,500 MW through captive wind energy projects, with the remaining 1,500 MW being developed for sale through power purchase agreements.

Presently, the RPO stands at 9% and will be progressively increased to 15% by 2020. The capacity addition through this policy will help meet this requirement and also enable sale to other states through open access.

Meanwhile, Bavankule said the net metering policy would help people who had set up solar energy panels for domestic or localised use to sell surplus energy to the MahaVitaran.

The state is also working on an off-grid and a solar rooftop policy and an energy conservation policy, which would consist of installation of LEDs indoors and outdoors; energy audits would also be evolved soon.