The Punjab government’s Renewable Energy Sector Committee is preparing to present a detailed plan to speed up the state’s clean energy transition. The committee will soon meet industry minister Sanjeev Arora to share its recommendations.
Pankaj Sharma, president of the Association of Trade and Industries Undertakings (ATIU), said Punjab must declare renewable energy as a priority sector to stay competitive.
He explained that many industrialists are setting up solar projects in states like Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, where they sell power at Rs 3 per unit, but then have to buy it back in Punjab at Rs 9–10 per unit. A new land policy for solar parks and open access to power could make Punjab more attractive for investment, he added.
The committee is also asking for a capital subsidy scheme, since building 1 MW of solar power costs between Rs 4 and 7 crore. Punjab has an estimated potential of 5–6 GW, which would require Rs 20,000–35,000 crore in investment. Local solar manufacturing clusters have also been suggested to cut dependence on imports and create jobs.
Other proposals include raising rooftop solar limits for industries, easier transfer of security deposits when factories change hands, and building small hydro plants along Punjab’s canals to generate low-cost clean energy while creating rural jobs.
Currently, Punjab has just 1.2 GW of solar capacity, far behind states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Karnataka. Committee members stressed that with nearly 300 sunny days a year, Punjab can do much better. “If these reforms are implemented, Punjab can become a renewable energy leader in North India,” Sharma said.
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