done: arunHyderabad: With power demand in Telangana touching new highs, the state govt is accelerating plans to expand solar and other renewable energy sources, including floating solar projects across major reservoirs, deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka said in the assembly on Thursday.He said the govt was working to ensure long-term energy security while sustaining its extensive power subsidy commitments. Replying to questions during question hour on floating solar projects, Bhatti said the energy and irrigation departments were jointly studying the feasibility of establishing floating solar plants on reservoirs of major and medium irrigation projects across the state. A clear announcement on the initiative would be made soon, he added.Bhatti said the govt was examining the potential for floating solar installations in reservoirs including Nagarjuna Sagar, Srisailam, Pulichintala, Sri Ram Sagar, Sripada Yellampalli, Devadula, Palair, Wyra, Mallanna Sagar, Lower Manair Dam, Mid-Manair and Pocharam.Bhatti, however, noted that floating solar projects involve significantly higher costs than conventional solar power plants. Although the Centre has introduced a viability gap funding scheme helping up to ₹1 crore per MW, certain conditions attached to the programme pose challenges, he said.One such condition is the mandatory use of domestically manufactured equipment, which increases project costs by nearly ₹1.30 crore per MW, he explained. Relaxation of these norms would encourage greater investor participation in floating solar projects, he added.Despite the higher costs, the govt remains committed to promoting the sector and attracting investments, Bhatti told the House.Highlighting the state’s growing energy needs, Bhatti said power consumption has risen sharply over the past two years.When the Congress govt assumed office in Dec 2023, Telangana’s peak power demand stood at around 15,000 MW. As of Sept 9, peak demand climbed to 19,543 MW, he said.The increase was being driven by industrial expansion and rising purchasing power among people, he added.While the surge in electricity consumption reflected the state’s economic growth, it also underscored the need to strengthen power generation and distribution infrastructure to meet future demand, Bhatti said.The deputy chief minister said the govt was currently bearing an annual burden of nearly ₹14,000 crore towards free power supplied to agricultural pump sets. In addition, around 55 lakh families were benefiting from the scheme providing up to 200 units of free electricity, which cost the exchequer another ₹5,000 crore annually.“Overall, the state govt was spending nearly ₹19,000 crore every year on electricity subsidies. The govt is exploring ways to continue providing free power to people while reducing the financial burden in the future. Solar power and pumped storage projects were among the alternatives being considered for this purpose,” he said.
