The Hindu 05.04.2013
Efforts on to tap solar energy
The State can join the league of pioneers of solar
energy in the country if its efforts to install 1,000 MW solar energy
plants are fruitful within a year.
Solar energy is
likely to be available at a price of Rs.8 to Rs.8.50 per unit. The
Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC), Solar Energy Society of India
and NREDCAP jointly organised a seminar on ‘Developing Vijayawada as a
solar city’ here on Wednesday.
On the sidelines of
the seminar, former advisor to Government of India (MNRE) E.V.R. Sastry
said: “My estimate is that the State has a potential to install 10,000
MW solar power plants in the next 15 years.” Gujarat is marching ahead
of others in the country.
Even before the Central
government announced the National Solar Mission, solar energy was being
generated in Gujarat. Gujarat has solar power units generating 824 MW,
and Rajasthan stands in second place with 440 MW. Andhra Pradesh has a
22.4 MW solar energy plant while Maharashtra has 24.2 MW, he explained.
Of
course, the climatic conditions matter. Gujarat and Rajasthan have dry
weather conditions and solar radiation is high compared to Andhra
Pradesh.
In our State, Rayalaseema region has good
potential to tap solar energy. Ranga Reddy, Medak, Nalgonda are some of
the districts suitable for solar power plants while Krishna district is
not that suitable, he opined.
The State government
has received bids close to 200 for the installation of solar energy
plants across the State. The bidders have quoted prices ranging between
Rs.6.50 per unit to Rs.12 per unit.
The bids hovered
in the range of Rs.6.50- Rs.8.50-Rs.10 and Rs.12. As per the conditions,
the government has to consider the lowest bidder.
The
tenders are likely to be finalised shortly and the plants will be
commissioned within a year, he said. Now, the question before the
government is:
What if the lowest bid is high
compared to bids in other places? For instance, if the bid is Rs.9 per
unit in a place X, which is quite high compared to Rs.6.50 in place Y.
To tide over it, the government is chalking out a benchmark price for
purchasing solar power generated in the State, he added.
The government has received bids close to 200 for the installation of solar energy plants across the State.
