Goa eyes German investment, expertise for renewable energy projects

Panaji: Power minister Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar said that he expects Germany to bring in technical expertise and investment for renewable energy projects in the state, which is aiming for 100% renewable energy by 2045 in all sectors.

Goa is in the forefront to encourage solar energy and other non-conventional renewable energy to cut carbon emissions to zero, he said at the Indo-German core partnering meet on sustainable energy and environmental technologies held recently.

The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI), Goa, along with Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Germany, organised the conference to explore opportunities for implementation of sustainable energy and technology driven projects in Goa.

The core partnering meet was the outcome of the first joint Indo-German stakeholder meeting on ‘Renewable and Sustainable Energy Technologies’ which intended to establish a joint Indo-German Agri-Marine Energy Centre in Goa.

Goa is facing challenges in the power sector due to increasing development since the state does not generate power and depends on neighbouring states and this also creates hurdles for the development of industry in the state, Dhavalikar said.

“There are abundant mines in Goa with tremendous amounts of water, which can be used by deploying gravity-assisted hydropower generation technology. There is a pressing need to develop other new energy storage technologies,” the power minister said.

The minister asked private sector companies from Goa to explore opportunities for implementation of sustainable energy and technology projects in Goa. “I hope that the Indo-German partnering meet will result in developing sustainable solutions,” he further said.

Several state government departments highlighted the opportunities, challenges, issues and technological requirements for energy and environmental sustainability.

Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) member secretary Sanjeev Joglekar said that maximum carbon emissions in the state are from the transport sector, followed by electricity, industry, fisheries and agriculture. He said that since Goa is a tourism state with limited land and energy resources, there is a need for the higher efficiency and aesthetic coloured solar panels, a technology developed and implemented by the Fraunhofer Institutes of Germany.

Directorate of transport, Goa State Pollution Control Board, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Goa University, NIT- Goa, Solar Power Association, IGBC – Goa chapter and Amrova Power Pvt Ltd also participated in the event.