Punjab State Energy Action Plan launched to achieve net zero goal

• *Amritsar to be developed as Solar City *

• *ACS New & Renewable Energy A Venu Prasad asks departments to come forward to solarise office buildings to decarbonise power sector & save power bills *

Chandigarh, May 10:  Punjab New and Renewable Energy Sources Department, which is headed by Cabinet Minister Mr Aman Arora,
on Wednesday has launched Punjab State Energy Action Plan to ensure promotion of energy efficiency in  Buildings, Industries, Municipalities, Agriculture, Transport and other sectors. This Energy Action Plan is aimed assisting Punjab State Departments/Agencies to adopt most sustainable, long term and inter sectoral renewable/ clean energy plan.

Additional Chief Secretary New and Renewable Energy Sources Mr. A. Venu Prasad, Chairman PEDA Sh. HS Hanspal and Head of Indo-German Energy Programme GIZ Dr. Winfried Damm also launched Decision Support Tool (DST) along with the Amritsar Smart City Portal & Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO) portal for the state of Punjab. 

Amritsar will be developed as Solar City, Mr A Venu Prasad said while adding that the State Energy Action Plan will help to achieve the goals towards Net Zero in each sector i.e. Agriculture, Power, Renewable, CBG, Municipalities, Transport, Buildings and Industries. PEDA has also signed an MoU with GIZ’s IGEN Access to Energy programme funded by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development for seeking technical assistance with the help of well experienced team of consultants and representatives of over 20 departments/organisations. 

Emphasising on the need of fast-tracking implementation of the Action Plan and review the progress quarterly, he asked all the departments to come forward to equip their office buildings with solar panels to decarbonise the power sector, which will help in reducing their power consumption charges to 25% to 30%.

Chairman PEDA Sh. H.S. Hanspal said that PEDA is the State Designated Agency of Government of Punjab for implementation of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 and
the vision of the PEDA to achieve Net Zero Goals by 2070. He also mentioned about the State Energy Efficiency Action Plan (SEEAP) being prepared by BEE at the State level. Punjab has also developed a State Energy Vision 2047. 

Appreciating the efforts of PEDA for taking the lead to prepare this unique document, Head Indo-German Energy Programme GIZ Dr. Winfried Damm explained the importance of long-term energy planning to meet India’s ambition on achieving Net Zero Goal. He emphasised on the role of all government departments and citizens of the state in realising the targets set at international stage. Dr Damm also shared examples from different European nations and their sectoral initiatives to decarbonise their economy, mostly by 2050, Germany by 2045.

Welcoming all the participants, Director PEDA Mr. MP Singh briefed about the State Energy Action Plan and Online Decision Support Tool using which all concerned department created data-driven development scenarios before setting any major development goals for the State.

Principal Secretary Power Mr Tejveer Singh, Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development Mr Ajoy Kumar Sinha, Chief Administrator GMADA Mr Amandeep Bansal and Chief Town Planner Punjab Mr Pankaj Bawa, Senior Advisor GIZ India Ms Nidhi Sarin, Joint Director PEDA Mr Kulbir Singh Sandhu and officials of Transport, PWD, Technical Education, Investment Promotion, Skill Development, Higher Education departments were also present in the meeting.

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