Odisha targets 129 Mw hydro power in 12th Plan

During the 11th Plan, only three state hydro electric power projects with a combined capacity of 57 Mw were completed

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Odisha aims to add 129 Mw of hydro power by the end of the 12th Plan (2012-17). The capacity addition in hydro power will be taken up at a cost of Rs 903 crore and the investments will flow from the private players.

During the 11th Plan (2007-12), only three state hydroelectric power projects (SHEPs) with a combined capacity of 57 Mw were completed. For setting up small and hydro power projects at different locations, the state government has entered into memorandum of understanding (MoU) with 33 developers.

The government has prioritized nine proposals for implementation with a combined generation capacity of 129 Mw. The proposals contemplated on Kolab river will be allowed to be executed and operated for 20 years.

Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS), a premier consultancy organization and Indian Institute of technology (IIT), Roorkee have been chosen to approve the design and drawings of these projects.

Presently, three SHEPs in the state are operational- Meenakshi Power Ltd, Middle Kolab-Koraput (25 Mw), Meenakshi PowerLtd, Lower Kolab-Malkangiri (12 Mw) and Odisha Power Consortium Ltd, Samal barrage-Angul (20 Mw).

Six other developers have signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) with state owned power trading firm Gridco with a total installed capacity of 67 Mw but are yet to start commercial operations. The developers include Sharvani Energy Pvt Ltd (15 Mw at Dumajhori, Koraput), Katatia Chemicals Pvt Ltd (9 Mw at Hirakud dam, Sambalpur), Jeypore Hydro Power Project (6 Mw at Upper Kolab, Koraput), Sidheswari Power Generation Pvt Ltd (10 Mw at Kharagpur, Koraput), Salandi Hydro Power Projects Ltd (9 Mw at Salandi river, Bhadrak) and Odisha Power Consortium Ltd (18 Mw at Jalapat dam toe, Koraput).

Apart from hydro power, the state government is also promoting grid based wind power generation.

The Centre for Wind Energy Technology (CWET)-Chennai has certified 16 wind power potential sites in the state- Chandipur, Chhatrapur, Damanjodi, Gopalpur, Paradeep and Puri to name a few. The gross potential for wind power has been estimated at 1700 Mw while the technical potential is assessed at 800 Mw by the Union ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE).

Proposals for wind power generation of 72.25 Mw at the Damanjodi area in Koraput district are under active consideration. The Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) has proposed 13.5 Mw wind power plant at Gopalpur.