Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) Eyes 20-MW Expansion In Rooftop Solar

As Goa strives to increase the installed capacity of its solar power, the industry of the state also seems to be on the same path. In a key development, the Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) will be supporting local manufacturing units to get rooftop solar power plants. The objective of GSIA is to generate 20 MW of captive solar power within Goa.

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GSIA says that current market conditions have led to historically low solar panel prices. Hence, the local industries now have opportunity to invest in solar power infrastructure.

Goa is a small state situated through the difficult Western Ghats terrain making spaces for large solar power installations especially difficult. The last budgetary announcement had provisions for development of 300-MW solar projects. 25-30 MW of solar is planned on government buildings, stadiums, malls, complexes etc.

Anirudh Dempo, President of GSIA, expressed confidence in achieving the 20 MW solar capacity goal through collaborative efforts and heightened awareness. GSIA wants to reduce carbon footprint, enhance energy efficiency and foster renewable energy adoption among industrial units.

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The GSIA President also held that both state and central government incentives are aimed at encouraging widespread adoption of solar power among smaller industrial units.

GSIA will have the implementation strategy where rooftop solar power plants will come up in clusters basis. This aims to aggregate demand, scale operations, and negotiate advantageous pricing terms with solar energy system providers. This cluster based solarisation of industrial rooftops could reduce prices by over 15%, enhancing accessibility and cost-effectiveness for industrial stakeholders.

Moreover, 1 MW prototype rooftops solar has already been installed at the Pilerne Industrial Estate. The industry body says that its successful and efficient. According to GSIA, industries stand to recoup the cost of solar power plants within three and a half years, thereby ensuring long-term sustainability and cost savings.

Recently, government owned SJVN Green Energy Ltd (SGEL) submitted a proposal to the state government of Goa under which it seeks to invest more than Rs 1,300 crore for the establishment of four floating solar projects in the western coastal state. The total power generation capacity of the four floating solar power projects would be 190-MW.