Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: In a bid to reduce expensive electricity purchases and stabilise tariffs, the Goa government plans to install Battery Energy Storage Systems with a total capacity of 1000 MWhr across substations by FY 2029-30, the Legislative Assembly was informed on Friday.
Replying to a starred question by St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar, Power Minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar said the storage systems will be charged during daytime and discharged during peak evening hours to minimise costly power procurement through power exchanges.
The minister said Goa is largely dependent on electricity purchased from other states and external agencies to meet its demand, as the Electricity Department does not operate its own power generation plants.
According to the government, the average power purchase cost in the state stood at Rs 3.87 per unit in FY 2021-22, increasing to Rs 4.64 in FY 2022-23 and Rs 4.69 in FY 2023-24, before declining to Rs 4.58 in FY 2024-25 and Rs 4.16 per unit up to December FY 2025-26.
Dhavalikar said the department has managed to reduce the average power purchase cost in recent years despite rising demand for electricity in the state.
He also said the government is promoting rooftop solar installations under net metering, allowing consumers to generate electricity and supply surplus power to the grid while availing subsidies under state and central schemes.
Within the state, electricity is currently generated through captive, waste treatment and solar plants, including units such as Vedanta (16 MW combined), Goa Sponge & Power Ltd (2 MW), Hindustan Waste Treatment Plant (1.54 MW), Vasudha Waste Treatment Plant (0.8 MW) and solar installations with a capacity of 82.65 MW under net/gross metering, along with 4 MW under the PM-KUSUM scheme.
The minister said the department is also exploring power banking arrangements, where excess electricity available during off-peak periods is stored and returned during peak demand months to reduce the need for high-cost purchases.
Officials said these measures are aimed at im
