Rajasthan tops in solar energy use

By Our Staff Correspondent

JAIPUR, MARCH 3. Rajasthan has bagged the first position in achieving the targets of solar rural electrification this year. The Union Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources had allotted 5,000 solar home lighting systems for rural areas in the State for the current financial year - the highest target among all States.

The Rajasthan Energy Development Agency (REDA), the nodal agency for renewable energy in the State, has asked for an additional 3,000 solar home lighting systems for the remaining part of the financial year.

The Director of REDA, Mr. Sudhansh Pant, said here that the demand for solar and other non-conventional energy devices was increasing by the day in Rajasthan. Due to their non- polluting nature, zero operational costs and regular and reliable supply of electricity, these non-conventional devices are gaining popularity. REDA has already installed 5,200 solar lighting systems in the current financial year and hopes to touch the 8,000 mark by the next month-end, as against 3,800 systems last year.

Mr. Pant said a minimum of ten connections were allotted in a village or cluster of huts under the solar rural electrification programme. One solar panel is installed on the roof of each beneficiary's house which is connected to battery. Two fixtures and switches are installed in every house.

The system supplies electricity regularly for three to four hours daily. Even in the absence of sunlight, the system can supply electricity for three to four days.

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