National Institute of New Energy, an institution for research and development of renewable energy technology, is likely to be set up in Odisha.
Business Standard reports that the institute is likely to be established close to IIT-Bhubaneswar, at Arugul.
The institute will work to support development of renewable energy technology suitable for coastal states, BS quotes Hemant Sharma, the managing director of Green Energy Development Corporation of Odisha Limited (GEDOL), as saying. It would also support demonstration projects.
According to Sharma, the government of Odisha will be providing 15 acres for the institute, which is expected to cost Rs 250 crore to develop.
He has added that the proposal was close to being finalised and a memorandum of understanding is to be signed with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy soon.
Establishment of the institute is expected to help Odisha and India build renewable energy capacity. Currently the country has about 35 gigawatts of installed clean energy capacity. Of this Odisha has only 116 megawatts, which is equivalent to 0.3 per cent.
The state plans to develop 3 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2022. The national target for renewable power generation is 175 gigawatts by 2022.
Ajith Kumar S