‘Energex’, an exhibition and conference on energy excellence, inaugurated on TREAT campus in Siruganur near Tiruchi.

Tamil Nadu has become the undisputed leader in tapping renewable energy, said Sudeep Jain, chairman and managing director, Tamil Nadu Energy and Development Agency (TEDA), here on Saturday.

The State government has embarked on a mission to tap solar energy in a big way and make it a people’s movement, Mr. Jain said inaugurating the third edition of ‘Energex’, an exhibition and conference on energy excellence, on TREAT campus in Siruganur near here.

Noting that power consumption was poised to rise significantly , Mr. Jain said conservation through the use of energy-efficient equipment should be looked into seriously. With the State government determined to tap into solar energy, trade bodies such as the Confederation of Indian Industry and the industrial sector at large should think of manufacturing renewable energy equipment.

He said Tamil Nadu was a leader in rooftop solar projects and a pioneer in using biomass plants in various sectors. The State government has drawn up an ambitious plan to generate 3,400 mega watt through solar energy , he said adding that 700 mega watt solar power plants were expected to be commissioned this year.

Plans were afoot to energise 70,000 rural homes through solar energy this year. Besides this, a unique initiative of energising streetlights using solar energy was also on the cards, he added.

Rani Muralidharan, chairperson, CII Tiruchi zone, and Executive Director G.K & Sons Private Limited, Tiruchi, said ‘Energex’ had been conceptualised to bring all stakeholders together.

Ravi Sam, vice-chairman, CII-Tamil Nadu, G.Sharavanan, Additional General Manager – Fossil Boilers, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, and P.Kanakaraj, vice chairman, CII Tiruchi, spoke at the inaugural session. Thirty five companies would display their products at the two-day event which will feature lectures by speakers on various topics pertaining to renewable energy and aspects connected with it.