State approves solar power projects of 230 Mw

The renewable energy sector in Orissa is likely to get a boost with a large number of private entrepreneurs evincing interest to set up solar power units in the state.

The state level technical committee (STC), headed by the secretary, science and technology (S&T) department of the Orissa government, has cleared eight more solar power projects with an aggregate power generation of 230 Mw.

It included two solar thermal power plants with a combined generation capacity of 125 Mw. This is for the first time, solar thermal power proposals have been cleared by the STC. “The STC has cleared two solar thermal power plants with a generating capacity of 125 Mw which is the first of its kind in Orissa”, a senior official of the state science and technology department told Business Standard.

While ACME Tele-powers would set up a 100 Mw solar thermal power plant either in Bolangir or in Khurda district, GRD Power Private Ltd would set up a 25 Mw solar thermal power plant in Khurda district, official sources said. Besides, six solar photo-voltaic power projects with an aggregate generating capacity of 105 Mw were given green signal by the STC. DUET Solar Projects Private Ltd would set up solar power plants in six locations like Nawarangpur, Koraput, Phulbani, Bolangir, Dhenkanal and Sambalpur with a combined generation capacity of 60 Mw.

The other projects cleared by STC included EIO Six Orissa Private Ltd (20 Mw, Bolangir), Cambridge Energy Pvt Ltd (5 Mw, Ganjam), Abacus Holding Private Ltd ( 5 Mw, Nawarangpur), Green O Projects (10 Mw, Khurda) and Green O Lite (5 Mw, Kalahandi).With this the total envisaged capacity in the solar power sector has increased to 294 Mw from 64 Mw earlier.

It may be noted, the STC had earlier cleared eleven solar power projects with a combined generation capacity of 64 Mw and those proposal have been sent to the Union ministry of new and renewable energy sources (MNRE) for migration to the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission launched by the Centre.