Private parties wanting to generate solar power in the state would also have to breed fish.

Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Limited has floated tenders for private parties to generate solar electricity. Under the scheme, the solar photovoltaic units — popularly known as solar plates — would be set up in ponds or chaurs (oxbow lakes), so that arable land is not used up for it. Those setting up the units would also have to utilise the water body to cultivate fish.

At present, the power company is planning to generate about 150MW of electricity with the help of the sun’s rays. Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency has been appointed the nodal agency for providing necessary support to facilitate the development of the solar photovoltaic units in the state.

“We have floated tenders for setting up solar photovoltaic units. The companies filling the tender would have to enter into a 25-year agreement to sell electricity to the power company,” said a senior official of Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Limited on condition of anonymity.

The tenders were floated on May 16. The last date for submission of completed bids is June 28.

A pre-bid conference would be held on June 1, where power company officials would clear the doubts and answer queries of bidders.

He added that power generation and pisciculture would happen together in the water bodies.

The power generation units would be connected to grid substations and the solar power would be delivered to the collection point of the power company.

Asked if one bidder would produce 150MW of power, the official said: “It can’t be a single bidder as generation of 150MW by one unit would require a huge tract of land. So, many bidders would utilise small and medium-sized ponds and low-lying areas.”

Only those bidders who quote the minimum price for selling electricity to the power company would be chosen.

Fishery experts said the solar panels were unlikely to affect fish cultivation in the ponds and lakes.

“There would be no impact on the fish in a water body if it is covered with solar panels,” said Brajendu Kumar, programme co-ordinator, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Khagaria.

He praised the power company for initiating the innovative process. “It would help the area,” said Kumar.

While addressing a Greenpeace seminar in Patna last year, energy minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said the state had the potential to generate around 10,000MW solar power.

The record for maximum solar radiation in India — 6.4 kWh/sqm/day — is held by the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. Bihar, too, has good solar radiation — 5.4kWh/sqm/day — compared to some other states in the country. The state gets around 280 to 300 sunny days every year.

“There is a vast potential to reap benefits of solar power. But the costs involved in setting up solar power units can be prohibitive,” said a senior officer of the power company on condition of anonymity.