Malwa region in Punjab attracting solar power developers

Out of the total 215 MW to be commissioned in the state by private solar power producers in the current fiscal, around 207 MW would be operational in Malwa region alone

The Malwa region of Punjab, comprising districts such as Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Mansa, Sangrur, Bathinda, Patiala, might earn distinction of the solar region, as it would have about 90 per cent of the total solar projects being set up in the state.

According to data, of the total 215 megawatts (Mw) to be commissioned by private solar power producers in the current financial year, around 207 Mw would be operational in Malwa region alone.

“The Malwa region is endowed with vast potential of solar energy with over 300 days of sunshine in a year and also good radiation. In addition to this, land is less fertile in this region, so, the land rates and the lease amount are less compared to other parts of the state. That’s why majority of the solar power developers are attracted to this region,” said Amarpal Singh, chief executive officer, Punjab Energy Development Agency, in an interaction with Business Standard. The region has a potential to generate solar energy at four-seven Kwh/sqm.

He added further, “ This is win-win situation for the farmers also. As the farmers are getting Rs. 60,000 a acre per annum by leasing their land to the developers against the market lease amount of 20,000-25,000 per acres..” For example PL Surya Urja Ltd, a Punj Lloyd firm has taken around 110 acres of land on lease from the farmers in Mansa district of the state. The company is paying around Rs. 60,000 per acre as a lease amount to the farmers per annum.

Currently, the total installed capacity in Punjab is 57 Mw of solar photovoltaic power, which includes power projects by Azure Urja (34 Mw), Madhav Solar (four Mw) in Mansa district and International Switchgears (one Mw) in Amritsar. Further, with various projects are on various stages of construction, the total solar power generation will touch around 215 by March 2015.

It is pertinent to mention here that in 2013, the state had awarded projects of 250 Mw to 26 developers in different parts of the state, which have either been commissioned before time or likely to be commissioned by this year. The solar power projects were awarded in two categories - projects which have a capacity of one to four Mw and the other between five and 30 Mw. In the first category, 18 companies were awarded the projects of 50 Mw, while in the other one, 11 were given projects of 200 Mw solar power. Among the companies which have been awarded the projects include Lanco Solar Energy, Punj Lloyd Infrastructure, Moser Baer Clean Energy, Essel Infra Projects, Asopus Infrastructure (India Bulls), Welspun Solar Punjab and Azure Urja.