Meghalaya honored with 2nd Prize at NECA 2023 for its energy efficiency & sustainable power initiatives
Meghalaya has bagged the second prize in the State Energy Efficiency Performance Award (Group 4) at the coveted National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) 2023. This recognition celebrates the state’s remarkable achievements in promoting energy efficiency and sustainable practices.
President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to Meghalaya’s Power Minister, Abu Taher Mondal, during a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The State Energy Efficiency Performance Award acknowledges Meghalaya’s significant improvement in its State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI), a key metric that tracks the effectiveness of energy conservation efforts across states.
Minister Mondal expressed his delight at the award, stating, “This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to sustainable practices and energy conservation. It motivates us to continue our efforts towards a greener and more energy-efficient future for Meghalaya.”
Meghalaya’s achievement is particularly noteworthy considering its dependence on hydro power and solar power for green power generation.
The state has recently launched a Rs 500 crore Solar Mission to ensure a sustainable power source in the state. Besides this, a 33/11kv, 1×2.5MVA substation at Karang village has played a key role in the smooth transfer of 2549 households from Karang and the neighbouring villages.
The state’s hilly terrain and dispersed population pose significant logistical hurdles in implementing energy efficiency initiatives. However, Meghalaya has demonstrated that dedication and innovation can overcome these obstacles and pave the way for a brighter energy future.
The reduction in distribution losses at MePDCL has been a gradual improvement in recent years. In comparison to the 25% distribution losses reported in the financial year 2021–2022, the distribution loss for the financial year 2022–2023 decreased to 16%.
This noteworthy achievement showcases Meghalaya’s dedication to clean energy initiatives. In recent years, the state has implemented various programs and policies to optimize energy consumption across sectors.
Recently, the state introduced the Meghalaya Electric Vehicle Policy, with the goal of achieving 15% of the state’s vehicles being electric by 2025. The draft Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) is also under consideration for implementation.
