Tamnar project essential for state’s power needs: Chief electrical engineer

Panaji: Acknowledging that the Goa electricity department (GED) faces technical constraints, chief electrical engineer Stephen Fernandes said that the Goa Tamnar transmission project provides long-term energy security to the state.

Speaking at a workshop on renewable energy storage, Fernandes said that technical constraints in the existing power transmission infrastructure make Goa vulnerable to power disruptions. He added that with rising temperatures, even short power cuts cause disruption, making resilience measures critical.“Although Goa has, on paper, a higher capacity transmission network, in reality, the operational capacity is less due to technical constraints, making the Tamnar power project essential,” said Fernandes.

He was speaking at the workshop organised by the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Institution of Engineers (India).Lamenting the decade-long delay in the Goa Tamnar transmission project, Fernandes said that the project, which was approved in 2016, should have been completed in 18 months. He said that new storage technologies like compressed air systems could play a vital role in bridging peak-hour power shortages.

GCCI president Pratima Dhond said that the state’s total dependence on external power sources puts local industries and businesses at a cost disadvantage, especially with peak-hour surcharges.Dhond called for stronger industry-govt partnerships to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy storage and clean technologies.Chairman of the GCCI Infrastructure Committee Gerard D’Mello said that while rooftop solar generation is an important step, it does not guarantee power security during outages or peak load. He urged stakeholders to focus on scalable, environmentally responsible storage solutions rather than relying solely on lithium-ion or lead-acid batteries.