Diu Becomes First Fully Solar-Powered District With 11.88 MW Capacity

Diu has become a shining national example of renewable energy adoption in India, with its entire daytime electricity demand being met through solar energy, said Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi. With an 11.88 MW capacity (9 MW ground-mounted and 2.88 MW rooftop). Union Minister Joshi visited Diu today to review its remarkable progress in solar energy adoption and assess the implementation of the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.

The Minister chaired a high-level meeting at Diu, with senior officials of the UT administration to review the status of solar energy generation, its current supply framework, and future expansion prospects. During the meeting, T. Arun, Energy Secretary of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, made a detailed presentation on existing solar energy plants, their production capacities, and the household-level benefits they provide. He informed the Minister that a large number of families in the UT are now availing the benefits of solar energy.

The meeting was also attended by Diu Collector Vivek Kumar, Deputy Collector Shivam Mishra, Executive Engineer Yogesh Tripathi, Paresh Patel, and other senior officials. Later, the Minister undertook a field visit to key solar energy facilities in Diu, including the 9 MW Solar Park located in Fudam. The Solar Park stands as a symbol of Diu’s sustainable transition and plays a vital role in meeting the region’s clean energy requirements.

Diu’s Key Projects 

The Minister noted that the Fudam solar park contributed significantly to reducing transmission and distribution (T&D) losses and enabled the revision of electricity tariffs, making them more affordable for consumers. He also praised the leadership of UT Administrator Praful Patel, stating that his proactive approach and vision have been instrumental in realising this clean energy transformation.

Speaking on the long-term impact, the Minister remarked, “The capital investments made over the past decade in renewable energy infrastructure in Diu have already been recovered through the supply and sale of solar power. He called for even faster and more effective implementation of the PM-Surya Ghar Yojana to maximise its benefits for the residents of the Union Territory and achieve total household saturation.”

With such a positive outcome from Solar, there is a strong case for the local administration to push for an energy storage system as well perhaps in Diu, that will allow more solar capacity additions as well as stretch use of solar energy into later hours.