The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), as part of India government’s ambitious plan of setting up 25 solar parks, has identified 12 locations in various states.
The scheme envisions establishing 25 solar parks with a total capacity of around 20,000 mw over the next five years.
Each park will include a plant with a capacity ranging from 500-1,000 mw.
The locations identified are in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Odisha and Punjab, Kapoor said adding that even Mizoram has expressed willingness to set up a park.
Andhra Pradesh has proposed to have a 2,500 mw park, Telangana 1,000 mw, MP is keen to have two parks of 750 mw each, Karnataka a 750 mw park, Rajasthan has identified land to set up projects as big as 4,000-5,000 mw and Odisha and Punjab to have around 3,000 mw each.
The ministry has cited parks in Gujarat and Rajasthan as models for the proposed solar parks.
India already has two solar parks, one in Gujarat and other in Rajasthan as models for the parks to be constructed as part of the scheme.
So far 12 locations have been identified and are in the process of finalizing the draft proposal for the same, says, Tarun Kapoor, joint secretary, MNRE.
They will soon forward the draft to the Cabinet for approval after which the bidding process could be started.
Government will collaborate with state counterparts while Solar Energy Corporation of India will implement the projects on behalf of the Centre.
A solar park is a concentrated area where the government provides land and basic infrastructure for setting up the plant as well as evacuation of power.
Developers have to enter into power purchase agreements with distribution companies before setting up the plant.
The government has made an allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for the development of ultra large solar projects and parks.
The installed solar capacity has touched 3,000 mw in the country and the government aims to increase it to 100,000 mw by 2022.
Sabeena Wahid
editor@greentechlead.com