JK Government to Explore Solar Power to End Power Crisis

According to the Power Development Department official the state has decided to explore the solar power sector in view of “huge burden” of the power purchase on the state exchequer.

To boost electricity and to end the power crises in the state, Jammu and Kashmir government is exploring solar power to meet the electricity requirement.

As per reports, the government would “diversify the solar power sector” of the state.

According to the Power Development Department official the state has decided to explore the solar power sector in view of “huge burden” of the power purchase on the state exchequer.

JK has second highest potential of solar power in India. According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), J&K has a solar power potential of 111.05 GWp, the second highest in India after Rajasthan, which has the potential of 142 GWp. However, JK failed to explore solar power over the years.

“The increasing burden of power purchase on state exchequer has prompted the government to generate solar power,” the official said.

Deputy Commissioners of all 22 districts of the state have been told to identify suitable land for the purpose.

“Projects with minimum 10 MW capacity of the solar power projects are economically viable, for which 400 Kanal of land having full sunshine are required,” the documents read.

He said the state government is spending the huge amount of money on power purchases despite having estimated 20,000 megawatts hydropower potential, of which around 3000 megawatts are being generated.