GUWAHATI: The North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) has welcomed the newly approved Assam Integrated Clean Energy Policy 2025 with open arms, a step that seeks to promote the use of renewable energy and its integration into the state's power grid.
Bidyananda Barkakoty, NETA Adviser, welcomed the policy, citing its specific provisions for the tea sector. "We are extremely happy with this new policy. The tea industry can reap benefits from this policy. We are grateful to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for the inclusion of the tea category," he stated.
The policy includes incentives for tea, coffee, and rubber consumers of the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL). Interestingly, it provides a maximum capacity of 1,000 kW for grid-connected rooftop solar power plants at a single location for these industries. Furthermore, energy banking will be allowed on an annual basis, allowing consumers to bank unused energy produced from green sources.
Previously, tea production was at a disadvantage since production was seasonal with no output in December to February and minimal output in March. The policy eliminates this disadvantage by allowing excess energy generated during off-peak production months to be carried over and utilized during subsequent production months.
Barkakoty highlighted the scope for using solar power to run tea factories in Assam, saying, "It won't be long before every tea factory in Assam is powered entirely by solar energy." This policy is a major step towards green energy usage in the region's crucial tea industry.
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