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Open letter to Devendra Fadnavis from a future engineer

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DailyBite
DailyBiteOct 21, 2015 | 20:38

Open letter to Devendra Fadnavis from a future engineer

Dear Mr Fadnavis,

Subject: Net metering – using renewable energy for electricity generation 

As India gears up to increase its solar energy production to power its growing economy, the role of Maharashtra could not be more significant. The western state has always been at the forefront of revolutionary policy decisions, which benefit its people and act as an inspiration for rest of the nation. Setting a target of 7500 MW of solar generation capacity by 2019 is one such example exhibiting Maharashtra government’s initiative of promoting solar power in the state.

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Limited conventional energy resources and their impact on the environment have led to an increased focus on development of the solar sector. Solar energy will be the key to achieving energy self-sufficiency for the state and the nation alike. However, high capital cost for installation of solar PV acts as a disincentive for domestic and commercial producers to adopt solar power plants. Recent reduction in cost per MW for such plants has provided some encouragement but the cost still remains higher than that of thermal power. Under such circumstances, technologies like rooftop solar power deserve to be explored further and given policy support to encourage domestic consumers to contribute to Maharashtra’s renewable energy target.

“Net metering” could be one such policy initiative, which is crucial for India, and in turn, Maharashtra, especially if the state wants to achieve energy security by 2022. Net metering for rooftop installations allows users to “net off” their energy bill for every unit sent back to the grid after one’s own consumption. This is advantageous because it promotes solar energy installations and generation; it takes pressure off the grid especially when the demand is high; it saves money for utility companies on meter installation, billing, etc.; and, last but not the least, it helps our state achieve its solar energy target.

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Net metering has been implemented at various levels in different states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, etc., with varying degrees of success. Maharashtra government has recently issued its policy guidelines on net metering but has met with a mixed response. The tariff structure (a policy matter) and grid-reliability (a technical concern) are two main reasons for the setback in adopting net metering by the consumers.

Sir, using rooftop solar power generation needs a major boost in order to reduce our carbon footprint and to contribute to clean energy needs of our state and nation. Like Maharashtra has always done, it needs to lead the way to promote renewable energy generation. Net metering, if implemented carefully, can act as an inspiration to trigger the nascent sector.

With this in mind, I beseech you to look carefully at the state’s net metering policy and make necessary amendments so that interests of domestic producers are secured.

Sincerely,

Mihir Shah.

Student of Dhirubhai Ambani International School (mihirs98@gmail.com), Mihir is part of the nature club in his school, where he got drawn towards the renewable energy initiative. Solar energy has become a very viable source of alternative energy. As part of his internship, he visited Jain irrigation systems to understand solar power and also did a research report on hybrid systems for combined generation of electricity and heat, using solar energy. He also realised that instead of having only centralised solar power generation, in many parts of the world and also some states of India, the government is pushing for rooftop solar panels to augment its effort at clean solar energy generation.

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Last updated: October 21, 2015 | 20:38
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