Solar energy exhibition at People's Plaza from august 24 2013

Hyderabad, August 22 (INN): The New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP) will organise a two-day exhibition from August 24 at People's Plaza in the city to create awareness among the people about using solar energy.

Talking to reporters here, Corporation's Managing Director M Kamalakar Babu said that the exhibition was aimed at encouraging people to use non-conventional energy sources to reduce the dependability on the conventional means like Hydel and Thermal energy. He informed that Chief Secretary Dr PK Mohanty will inaugurate the exhibition.

The energy department, which has been popularising its solar power policy, has set an ambitious target of producing 25,000 MW of solar electricity.

“Germany is producing 25,000 MW solar power which is very much possible in Andhra Pradesh too,” Energy Department officials told reporters here on Friday.

Special chief secretary (energy) M Sahoo, AP Transco chairman and managing director Suresh Chanda, NREDCAP MD Kamalakar Babu and other officials briefed the media about the solar power policy and the two-day exhibition-cum-awareness campaign on roof-top solar energy production.

An exhibition on roof-top solar energy would be conducted at People’s Plaza in the city on Saturday and Sunday. Sahoo said that panels and other products would be exhibited during the two days and wanted the public to come in large numbers.

Domestic power consumers who install roof-top solar panels would get up to 50 per cent subsidy on the equipment. If they supply solar energy to power grid, they would get `2.69 per unit.

However, the amount would be deposited in the bank accounts of consumers twice in a year - June and December. If the power supplied to grid was less and the consumers used more energy, the consumer will be required to pay the power bill on a monthly basis.

“Consumers can also install battery to store the power generated by them for usage during nights in case of severe power cuts”, the officials explained.

Asked about the proposed strike by Rayalaseema and Andhra employees in five Discoms, Genco and Transco from midnight of September 2, Sahoo said that he would currently be confined to the subject of solar energy and would comment on the strike later.