Bhubaneswar, April 4: Odisha, a traditional producer of hydro and thermal power, today stepped up its efforts to generate power from renewable sources by formally opening a solar plant.
At present, Odisha produces 53MW of renewable energy and has set an ambitious target to generate nearly 800 MW of renewable energy from solar energy, wind and biomass by 2014.
Built under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, the power plant was inaugurated by union minister for new and renewable energy Farooq Abdullah near the Ugratara temple in Khurda district.
“The people should realise the potential of solar energy, which is environment friendly. Apart from this, the state government should make efforts to generate energy from wind and other renewable sources,” said Abdullah.
The Union minister released a special cover by the Indian Post on the occasion. Abdullah also inaugurated a floriculture green house farm developed under National Horticulture Mission. Built with an investment of Rs 1.5 crore, the farm will supply gerbera and roses at a cheaper price.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik met Abdullah over lunch at his residence.
Built over 5 acres, the power plant has 4,400 solar panels to generate power. The plant has been set up by MGM Group, which has signed a contract with the state government to provide power for the next 25 years at a rate of Rs 18.52 per unit. It will supply nearly 15 lakh units of power annually.
The MGM Group had invested nearly Rs 5 crore to set up the solar power plant. It had plans to install another unit with a capacity of 1MW, said director P.L. Mohanty.
The project has been developed with the support of the state-owned Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA). Eight solar power plants with a capacity of 1MW each are being set up in the state.
Besides, another solar power plant with 5MW capacity was being established at Sadeipali in Balangir to boost the renewable energy generation, said OREDA’s deputy director A.K. Choudhury.
Calcutta-based Alex Astral Power Private Ltd had bagged the contract to set up a 25MW solar power plant in Odisha at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore, said Choudhury.
The state government has a plan to add 75MW of solar power in the current financial year. “Two solar power plants having a capacity of 25 MW and 50MW will be set up in the state. We have already issued our letter expressing an interest for the 50MW solar power plant,” said the OREDA official.
The state-owned Grid Corporation of Odisha (Gridco) has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with eight solar power developers with the capacity of one MW each.
The state government undertaking had also signed a memorandum of understanding with Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) to avail generation-based incentive under Rooftop Photovoltaic and Small Solar Generation Programme (RPSSGP) scheme of the Union new and renewable energy ministry.
