Bhubaneswar: Odisha is enriched with natural resources. By utilising its natural resources, including non-fossil fuel sources, Odisha will generate electricity and contribute to achieving the ambitious target of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 500 GW of renewable energy, said Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday.
New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi made this statement while attending a two-day “Chintan Shivir-2024” organized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in Bhubaneswar.
The Minister said, “By 2032, India’s electricity demand will double. To overcome the bottlenecks in electricity, we must produce more electricity by utilizing renewable energy, non-fossil fuels, and solar power. As of today, India has already achieved the target of 212 GW of non-fossil fuel energy. To enhance this, the Centre has allocated Rs. 22 lakh crore.”
Along with Joshi, Minister of State MNRE Shripad Yesso Naik, Deputy Chief Minister KV Singhdeo, Union Power Secretary Pankaj Agrawal, and Principal Secretary, Energy Vishal Dev were present at the Shivir.
Minister Shripad Yesso Naik stated that there is a target of 500 MT Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia production, and equal importance is being given to energy generation from waste. The National Grid is being set up to provide a sustainable electricity infrastructure to the entire country.
Singhdeo highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for Odisha. He said that in the coming days, Odisha is preparing a roadmap for PSPs and PM-Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana schemes. He also highlighted plans to start a floating solar power plant operational in Hirakud Reservoir.
Two days prior, Singhdeo attended the Power Ministers’ Conference in New Delhi, where he unveiled the strategies and various plans of Odisha.
The first day of the Chintan Shivir witnessed insightful discussions about PM-Surya Ghar Mufti Bijli Yojana, increasing solar energy production, India: Global Producer of Solar Energy, use of solar energy in the agricultural sector, and the potential of renewable energy.
Later, Union Minister Joshi visited Puri and had darshan of Lord Jagannath. On the occasion, he flagged off 10 battery-operated vehicles at Jagannath Temple as part of the IREDA CSR initiative. Pradip Kumar Das, CMD, IREDA, and Dr. B.K. Mohanty, Director (Finance), IREDA, were present on the occasion.
