Shabir Hussain/Kargil

Ladakh, the youngest of the Union territories of India that borders China is all set to emerge as the hub of solar and non-conventional energy in India.

Kacho Ahmad Khan, Project Director, Kargil Renewable Energy Agency (KREDA), said that with Prime Minster Narendra Modi declaring Ladakh will be run entirely on renewable energy, the region has a potential of 7000 Mega Watt Solar Power - 5000 Mega Watt from Leh and 2500 from Kargil.

The initial exercises of survey and investigation have been completed. The KREDA has also a given a projection of the potential of other renewable sources of energy in Kargil district.

It may be recalled that geological survey of India has already discovered geo thermal energy deposits bordering China. In the same region China extracts huge geo-thermal energy.

 Though Leh district was already ahead in installation of the solar panels in most houses and commercial establishments, Kargil is catching up fast. The setting up of the Kargil Renewable Energy Agency (KREDA) has led to installation of Solar powere projects, more than 3500 Solar Green Houses, Solar Water Heaters, steam cooking, Solar Rooftop, etc.

Kacho Ahmad Khan also known as the “Energy Man” of Ladakh said the setting up of the KREDA as an exclusive agency for the purpose by the  Ladakhi Autonomous Hill Developmental Council (LAHDC) Kargi was a game changer.

The agency is already exploring the utilisation of the enormous solar power in the rwegion.

He said KREDA will find new avenues of utilising solar energy in sectors such as Solar Lift Irrigation Schemes. Already, the Yak Breeding Farm at Bodh Kharboo is with 45 HP Pump and 50 KW Solar Photovoltic Setup has became the face of Solar Lift irrigation.

The renewable Energy has a great potential to become one of the major industry after tourism and great opportunity for employment generation at grass-root level, he said.

Solar Power panels atop a House in Kargil

The success of Biaras Hydel Project, Chiloong Hydel project and Matayen Hydel Project has increased the potential of small Hydro Projects in the district and the success was crowned to the team of He also appreciated the success of mini Hydel Projects connected with Grid commissioned by the LAHDC In Ladakh which are running in winter and is a profit making venture.

This revenue is generated and recycled independent of the government by a special purpose vehicle.

The Agency is the primary agency responsible for Renewable Energy Projects under the direct control of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil which was started in year 2010 to implement the Ladakh Renewable Initiative of the Central Government.

Ladakh is in for a glut of power with near completion of the SHP Khandi, SHP Raru, and SHP Zunkul.

The Agency has installed and commissioned 350 numbers of 5Kw Rooftops in different parts of Ladakh and soon these rooftops will be connected with virtual net metering and become revenue generation for individual families and government departments.

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He further added that the Agency has implemented various schemes of the Government as well as different projects funded under CSR where under the impact can been seen on ground that people are enjoying with the tapped energy after 10 years of establishing the Agency and expected to develop further thus improving the living standard of the people in near future.