The state has ordered 200 MW of PV across each of 16 zones this year and next, and said all government buildings, water and irrigation projects will host solar arrays. Maharashtra’s chief engineers have been instructed to accelerate PV rollout. Image: Baajhan at English Wikipedia Maharashtra will add 3.2 GW of solar capacity in the next two years. State power minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule yesterday said the chief engineers of 16 zones overseen by state distribution company Mahavitaran have been directed to establish 200 MW of PV projects in each area over the next two years. Speaking to reporters, the minister said all private and government water, irrigation projects and government buildings – including gram panchayats – will be powered by solar. A tentative Rs500 crore budget is being prepared and will be implemented as part of the government’s energy conservation policy. Under the scheme, state electricity board generation company MahaGenco will handle large projects and Mahavitaran smaller ones. MahaGenco is currently implementing 750 MW of solar project capacity and Maharashtra has 1.1 GW of installed solar with a further 350 MW in development. The state gets 250-300 days of clear sun with average radiation of 4-6 kWh/m² per day, and has the capacity to generate 1.5 million units/MW/year using PV.
The Mahavitaran state of PV plans to increase its solar capacity by 3.2 GW over 2021 . The 16 zones overseen by state distribution firm Mahavitaran will each create 200 MW of photovoltaic schemes by the next two years . Announcing the plan, gram , Maharashtra 's power minister, said all private and government-run water projects, irrigation schemes and government buildings would be powered by solar, as part of the government's energy conservation policy.