M. Jayaraju, director of the Agency For Non-conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT), recently disclosed that Kerala is working on a 25000-rooftop solar units programme. The announcement comes hot on the heels of the state getting ready to formally launch its ‘10,000 rooftop’ programme on February 11.
ANERT is the nodal agency for the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Sources (MNRE), Govt of India, to carry out the central programmes in Kerala.
But unlike the 10,000-rooftop programme, the next one to facilitate additional rooftop solar plants in the state will be grid-connected.
“The regulations for the grid-tie 25,000 rooftop programme are being evolved by the Kerala State Electricity Board and will have to be approved by the state electricity regulatory commission. Jayaraju expressed confidence that the programme would be brought in before 2014,” said a report by Business Line.
The state government is also said to be working on the subsidy to those who put up rooftop solar plants. “In the current ’10,000 rooftop’ programme, the State gives a subsidy of Rs 39,000 for a one kW system, over and above the subsidy given by the Ministry of New and Renewable Sources, Government of India,” the report added.
