Punjab: Officials of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) claim that the power company has taken significant initiatives in the new and renewable energy sector. According to a PSPCL spokesperson, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Prahlad Joshi chaired a regional workshop of officials of power companies of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir in Jaipur on January 21. Ministers from Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir were also present on the occasion. During the workshop, renewable energy topics related to centrally run schemes were discussed. The performance of states participating in rooftop solar power generation was also discussed.
“Punjab sought reduction in trading margin of 7 paise per unit charged by central PSUs appointed as trading licensees by the Centre to promote renewable energy. There was also a demand to increase the motor capacity from 7.5 to 15 horsepower with central assistance under PM Kusum Yojana,” a PSPCL spokesperson said. He said, “To address environmental issues related to stubble burning, Punjab has sought central assistance for bridging the viability gap for biomass (paddy stubble) based power projects in the range of Rs 5 crore per MW to facilitate economic viability of such projects, as has been done in the case of paddy stubble based compressed biogas plants.”
