Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant alongside Power and Renewable Energy Minister Nilesh Cabral, distributed a subsidy worth Rs. 53.42 lakhs that will benefit 29 Solar Rooftop Scheme Prosumers which will encourage people to install solar power and shift to clean and green energy. Goa currently has about 55 people that have already installed solar power rooftops.
The Goa State Solar policy was notified in December 2017 which highlights 50% subsidy, net metering and group metering, said founder and CEO of SUN360, Anish Sousa. The panel has a life span of about 25 years. Eddie and El Shaddai Charitable Trust were amongst the first subsidy beneficiaries. The system installed by SUN360 at Eddie’s residence saved Rs, 36,480 last year generating more than 8.11 MWh of electricity.
El Shaddai has installed a system at their school and orphanage home in Assagao that led to a zero electricity bill since the time of installation.
According to Savio Figuerido, a resident of Aldona, usage of the net metering system will lead to many solar producers recieving a zero electricity bill. Usage of the group metering system has enabled consumers to generate solar power at one place and offset thier consumption in any part of the state.
The said event was held at the Chief Minister’s residence at Altinho and was attended by the CM himself along with Power Minister Nilesh Cabral, Memeber Secretary of GEDA, Sanjeev Joglekar and others.
The disbursal of the subsidy was long overdue but that the amounts have been disbursed was welcomed by all stakeholders, consumers and Solar Power Association of Goa.
Cabral further also mentioned that another 55 applications are in process and will be cleared at the earliest.
