State governments are realising that production of decentralised renewable energy, will add to the total capacity within the state. Various state governments have been working on drafting a comprehensive policy to promote adoption of solar rooftops by residents within each state. A new policy has been formalized and notified for the power consumers in Goa for improving the rate of solar adoption in the state. The policy seems
an ambitious move on the part of the state government and the notification states that 50 percent subsidy shall be available from the state government as a benefit for installing a solar rooftop plant. GEDA ( Goa Energy Development Agency) which is the nodal agency for administering this benefit in Goa, will offer this subsidy which includes 30% of share from the Centre. The capital cost shall be calculated using the formula fixed by MNRE.
an ambitious move on the part of the state government and the notification states that 50 percent subsidy shall be available from the state government as a benefit for installing a solar rooftop plant. GEDA ( Goa Energy Development Agency) which is the nodal agency for administering this benefit in Goa, will offer this subsidy which includes 30% of share from the Centre. The capital cost shall be calculated using the formula fixed by MNRE.
Interestingly in a first of sorts, there is a penalty provision as well, if post grant of the permission the power producer does not install and commission the project within the deadlines provided.
Producers and Consumers will get this 50% subsidy as a form of a grant to be recovered in 6 months, over time. The scheme is effective and notified with immediate effect and had been drafted earlier in December 2017. Now, the subsidy benefit is available for all users, who have installed the solar rooftop plant in Goa, post December 21, 2017.
Many players like Urja Unlimited, who play the role of catalyzing the market, and are essentially system integrators, help install solar rooftop plants in the state. The system integrator handholds the consumer and advises suitable equipment including sizing the rooftop PV plant depending on load of each consumer. Correct sizing of the plant helps in minimizing upfront capital spend in the rooftop solar PV plant, as well as, helps in reduction in electricity bills for the consumer. Many households have already derived benefits in terms of reduction in monthly electricity bills using solar. One of the key considerations for Goa is that being a coastal market, the solar panels and the mounting structure, must be built and suitably galvanized, to be able to withstand corrosion over long term. This is especially true, since the average life of the solar rooftop plant is upwards of 25 years.
The amended Goa policy, for solar rooftops, is a step in that direction and aims to increase the installed base of solar PV plants in the state.