MahaGenco plans 2,500 MW solar capacity through PPP mode

Entire power to be supplied to state distribution utility MahaVitaran

State generation utility MahaGenco has firmed up plans to increase its solar capacity to 2,500 Mw from the present level of 180 Mw under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode in the next three to five years.

MahaGenco has estimated a total investment of Rs 15,000 crore (with per-Mw cost of Rs 6 crore) while requiring a total land of 12,500 acres. With this, Maharashtra has joined Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana to pursue addition in the solar sector through PPP or engineering, procurement and construction routes.

MahaGenco’s proposed addition is part of the Maharashtra government’s proposal to add a total of 7,500 Mw of solar capacity envisaged in the recently-announced renewable energy policy. A MahaGenco official told Business Standard: “MahaGenco will supply the entire solar power of 2,500 Mw to the state power distribution utility MahaVitaran.” This will help MahaVitaran to meet its renewable power obligation (RPO) mandated by the state electricity regulatory commission."

According to the official, MahaGenco has already appointed Gensol as its consultants to achieve the proposed capacity addition. He informed that the MahaGenco in consultation with the state government and Gensol may explore the balance solar capacity addition of 5,000 MW by adopting EPC route.

MahaGenco has an installed capacity of 11,237 MW. This comprises of Thermal (nearly 70%, 7980 MW) and a gas based generating station at Uran, having an installed capacity of 672 MW. Besides, MahaGenco is operating and maintaining 27 hydel projects with capacity of 2,585 MW.

Further, the company is currently involved in the implementation of thermal capacity addition of about 9,320 MW. Project execution works of 3,230 MW are in full swing and 6,090 MW projects are in advanced stage of planning.