The state government is spending a whopping Rs 2,000 crores to segregate agricultural feeders to cut transmission and distribution (T&D) losses. Experts say that by using solar energy for captive generation in between feeders, the huge T&D losses can be arrested.
However, instead of tapping into non-conventional energy options, the state is spending a huge sum to separate feeders. The T&D losses are approximately 20 per cent in the state and the government has planned to segregate feeders at the cost of Rs 3,500 crore.
Officials in the energy department opine that the project can be done away with by connecting small solar plants in the distribution network to arrest the distribution losses.
“Solar plants of small capacity can be set up anywhere unlike wind power plants. They can be easily connected to the distribution network. While other power plants are set up where resources are available, the location benefit in case of solar power plants can fill in the gap that of the transmission losses,” said a senior official.
The state currently generates only 1 MW of solar power. “The state should have installed at least 300 MW of solar power plants by now. However discoms are not interested in solar plants due to their bad financial position and lack of incentives,” the official added.