Odisha to float tenders soon for 48 Mw solar power

In its efforts to maximise solar power generation and also to fulfill the renewable purchase obligation (RPO) of its bulk power purchaser Gridco, the state government would soon float tenders for new soar power capacity of 48 Mw.

Presently, on-grid solar power projects with a total capacity of 13 Mw are operational in the state. According to RPO fixed for 2013-14, Gridco has to buy six per cent of its energy from renewable sources out of which 0.20 per cent has to be from solar power.

Gridco has signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) for eight solar photo voltaic (PV) projects of 1 Mw under Roof Top PV and Small Solar Power Generation Programme (RPSSGP) scheme.

Gridco has also entered into power sale agreement with NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd, a 100 per cent subsidiary of NTPC Ltd, to avail solar power bundled with equivalent capacity of thermal power from unallocated share of upcoming NTPC stations under ‘New Solar Projects’ scheme of Union ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE). Under the said scheme, 20 Mw of solar power has been allocated to Gridco.

NTPC would be supplying solar power to Gridco in bundled form along with thermal power and the tariff for solar power will be in the range of Rs 4.74-5 per unit.

The Green Energy Development Corporation of Odisha Ltd (GEDCOL) has planned to go for solar PV generation to the tune of 20-40 Mw immediately for which it has already held two rounds of discussions with Gridco. GEDCOL is also setting up 50 Mw solar power project at Manmunda in Boudh district. Around 250 acres of land will be needed to set up the project. The project will cost Rs 400 crore.