Cabinet To Consider Solar-Cum-Gas Power Plant
A unique solar-cum-gas power plant project generating 140 mw will be put up for cabinet approval during the next fortnight. The only one of its kind in Asia, the Rs 780 crore plant is to be located in Mathania, Rajasthan. The plant will run on solar power during the day and switch to conventional fuel at night when the solar panels cannot charge.
It will be based on integrated operation of parabolic trough solar power generator with a combined cycle gas turbine using fossil fuels such as Naphtha and fuel oil. The plant uses an energy-efficient design and the steam generated from the burning of gas will be ploughed back to rotate a turbine.
Official sources said the project would be funded jointly by the Rajasthan government, ministry of non-conventional energy sources, a grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and KFW, a German export credit agency. The technology for the project will be sourced from various Indian and foreign agencies. The main work is to be done by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (Bhel), which has considerable expertise in steam turbines.
The Rajasthan State Power Corporation Ltd (RSPC) will be responsible for building, owning, operating and maintaining the project. The ministry will help in channeling finance and tying up with foreign agencies like GEF and KFW.
The ministry and the Rajasthan government are putting up Rs 50 crore each for the project while the GEF is giving a grant of $45 million. KFW is giving a loan-cum-grant amounting to $250 million. The rest is to come as loan from various sources.
The solar plant will generate 35 mw during the day while the combined cycle back end plant will produce 105 mw.
The plant will be the start of similar projects in the solar energy zone area of Rajasthan consisting of Jaiselmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner districts. The zone is said to receive consistent sunlight for 335 days in a year. Sources said the cost of power generation would be about Rs 2.05 per unit while it will be sold to the Rajasthan State Electricity Board at Rs 2.25 per unit. The cost can be further brought down with an increase in capacity. Ashok Parthasarthy, secretary, ministry of non-conventional energy sources, said the project was in an advanced stage of government clearances and work should commence before the third quarter of this year. Tendering for equipment would start in a few weeks and the plant is planned to be completed within three months of the start.