26 solar power developers to invest Rs 2500-3000 cr in Punjab

If everything goes well according to the plan conceptualised by the Punjab government, top solar power developers namely Lanco Solar Energy, Punj Lloyd Infrastructure, Moser Baer Clean Energy, Essel Infra Projects, Asopus Infrastructure (India Bulls), Welspun Solar Punjab , Azure Urja etc would commence operations in the state by next year.

Taking a step in this direction, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal handed over letter of awards to 26 developers for 250 MW solar power projects having joint investment of Rs 2500-3000 crore and more than 2000 job opportunities in next 15 months. The letter of awards were handed over to the developers after a successful bidding process.

Presiding over a function organised by Punjab Energy Development Authority, the deputy chief minister pointed out they had set a target to generate at least 1000 MW power from renewable resources of energy like solar, biomass, co-generation, mini-hydel and solar roof tops in next four years.

He said that after awarding these 250MW solar power projects, the state was all set to award 300 MW biomass power plants shortly. He said with the availability of abundant agri-residue in the form of paddy straw and cotton stalks, the state had a great potential for setting up of biomass power plants, having dual benefit of additional income to farmers, besides saving the ecology of the state. Badal said that Punjab was also exploring the possibility of setting up a mega solar park to promote clean and green energy in a big way.

Earlier, addressing the solar power developers, Bikram Singh Majithia, non conventional energy minister of the state revealed that Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh had started the bidding process simultaneously. Punjab allocates solar power projects to the tune of 250 MW after completing the bidding process for 300 MW solar power, while Rajasthan allocates 75 MW, Tamil Nadu 200 MWand Andhra Pradesh 200 MW against the bidding process of 100, 1000 and 1000 MW respectively.

He said that at present, the country has 1000MW installed capacity of solar power projects and companies like Lanco Solar Energy, Punj Lloyd Infrastructure, Moser Baer Clean Energy, Essel Infra Projects, Asopus Infrastr-ucture (India Bulls), Welspun Solar Punjab , Azure Urja and Solairedirect Energy, have now preferred Punjab for investment.