PUNJAB LAUNCHES THE SOLAR POWER REVOLUTION IN THE COUNTRY
Posted By News Team On April 7, 2008 @ 9:12 pm In Chandigarh, Poltics (Pb) | No Comments
Chandigarh, April 7:Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) took a major leap forward in its endeavour to put up Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Power Projects in MW scale in the state, when in response to the International Competitive Bidding invited for setting up of SPV Power Projects on Build, Own, Operate (BOO) basis, 4 companies were shortlisted and a combined capacity of 17MW SPV Power Projects were allocated to be setup on Build Own Operated basis at various locations in the state of Punjab.
Informing this here today Science and Technology and Information & Public Relations Minister Punjab Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia said that Punjab was the first state in the country to allocate the MW scale projects. He informed that earlier 20 bids were received from a number of International / National companies for setting up of a combined capacity of MW scale Solar Photovoltaic power projects. Recalling the earlier period, when only KW scale SPV Power Projects were the norm and PEDA started with setting up of 50KW and 200KW SPV Power Projects, it has come a long way and taken a major step forward in making MW scale projects in the field of Solar Photovoltaic Power, a reality.
He further said that the state has a major potential in generating power from Solar Energy as 330 days of clear sunshine with solar insolation between 4-7 kwh / Sq. mtr. is available. The state was the first in the country to provide a tariff for solar power which starts from Rs. 7/- per Kwh. (base year 2006-07) and peaking upto Rs. 8.93 per Kwh. (base year 2011-12) with annual escalation of 5%. A tariff order providing this tariff was given by PSERC on 13th December'07.
With a view to encourage the setting up of SPV Power Projects on BOO basis Mr. Majithia said that the PEDA has invited bids through tariff based competitive bidding route in the 1st Phase for creating a total capacity of 100MW through solar photovoltaics. Various renowned International / National companies, notable among them were Reliance Industries Ltd., EPURON Renewable Energy Pvt. Ltd., Germany, Moser Baer Photovoltaic Ltd., Power Quality and Electrical Systems Inc. USA had submitted their bids. He further informed that with such a good response, PEDA has been able to get a combined projects capacity of 17MW and after completing the bid evaluation process, allocation letters for setting up of the projects in the state have been issued to four shortlisted companies i.e. M/s. Moser Baer, M/s. PQES Inc., M/s. India Bulls Electricity and M/s. Azure Power. These projects shall be completed and commissioned within a period of 630 days i.e. before Dec.'2009 and power generated shall be fed into the PSEB grid. The for these projects is in accordance with the NRSE Policy'06 and PSERC tariff order with peaking rate for sale of power from these projects being Rs. 8.93 / Kwh from the year 2011-12 onwards. The power purchase agreements shall be signed for a period of 30 years.
These projects being environment friendly and pollution free should be eligible for Carbon Credits under CDM and shall lead the solar revolution in the country which would ultimately bring down the cost of solar power generation, create enhanced capacities and also build economies of scale in this sector.
Mr. Majithia, Informed that it was a major achievement for the country, that state of Punjab and PEDA when a beginning has been made to actually realise the solar energy for power generation through setting up of MW scale projects. He further informed that PEDA shall be shortly inviting expression of interest / offers for setting up of a large scale solar thermal power project in the state of Punjab very soon.
Article printed from The India Post: http://www.theindiapost.com
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