The Hindu 14.02.2013
Solar energy park to be ready by May at Paramakudi
A dozen companies evince interest in setting up power plants in the park.
Raasi Green Earth Energy Private Ltd (RGEE), which had
signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tamil Nadu Industrial
Development Corporation (TIDCO) for establishing Rs. 920 crore solar
energy park at Paramakudi, would develop the park by May after
completing the land acquisition process by the end of this month.
Giving
details of the progress of the project, promoted under the
public-private partnership mode, a first of its kind in the country, Mr.
C.Narasimhan, Chairman, RGEE said the company had acquired 200 acres of
land and complete the process of acquiring 600 acres by the end of this
month and make the park ready in the next three months.
“After
signing a joint venture agreement with TIDCO in the presence of Chief
Minister in December, we have a tie-up with Larsen and Tubro,
CanadianSolar, Enerpark and Sgurr to develop the park,” Mr. Narasimhan
told The Hindu here after meeting the District Collector here Tuesday
night.
He said the park, being established in a high
solar power potential shadow free area near Paramakudi, would have “semi
plug and play facility” for the investors, who wished to set up their
power plants in the park. The park would also have facilities for power
evacuation besides common infrastructure support, he said. The park is
the first project established under the state government’s solar energy
policy, 2012.
Stating that a dozen companies have
evinced interest in setting up power plants in the park, Mr. Narasimhan
said RGEE would invest about Rs.200 crore in the project. It would
develop the park at a cost of Rs. 120 crore and establish a 10 MW unit
at a cost of Rs.80 crore.
The companies, which have
shown “expression of interest” would be required to establish a power
plant to produce a minimum of 5 MW, involving an investment of Rs. 40
crore at the rate of Rs. 8 crore per MW, he said adding “by the end of
this year, we will generate 100 MW from the park.”
Mr.
Narasimhan said the park would provide direct employment to 1,000
people and indirect employment to a similar number. Imported high end
solar cells and panels would be used in the power plants to achieve
highest production, he said.
The existing 100 MW grid
at Kavanur, near the upcoming park would provide the much needed power
evacuation facility, he said. A sub-station and extension bay would be
built at a cost of Rs.40 crore and connectivity cables for power
evacuation would be provided at the doorsteps of each developer, he
added.
Mr. Narasimhan said the land acquisition
process has turned out to be a smooth process, thanks to District
Collector K. Nanthakumar, who has appointed a nodal officer to verify
land records and ensure they were free from encumbrance. He was getting
good support from TIDCO and Tamil Nadu Industries and Power Ministries,
he said.
In deference to the wishes of Chief Minister
Jayalalithaa, he would establish similar solar energy parks elsewhere
in the State to produce a total of 1,000 MW of power. The second solar
energy park in the State would come up in Krishnagiri Lok Sabha
constituency, which he had represented during 1996-98, he said. The
other solar parks would be established in the districts of
Tiruvannamalai, Ariyalur, Pudukottai, Dharmapuri, Tiruchi and
Perambalur, he added.
Assessment Station
A
fully monitoring Solar Radiation Resource Assessment Station would be
established in the park with the assistance of Union Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy, C. Narasimhan, Chairman of Raasi Green Earth Energy
Pvt Ltd (RGEE), has said.
The station with satellite
link facilities would measure solar radiation inside the park and
disseminate the details to all developers in the park. The developers,
who set up power plants, could make use of the facility free of cost, he
said.
Similarly, a Solar Energy Technical Centre and
Training Centre would be established in the park for the benefit of
participating companies, he said.
The Technical
Centre would keep developers informed of advanced technologies in the
sphere of solar energy while the Training Centre would impart training
on solar projects to the personnel, he said.
“Besides, there will be security and peace of mind in the park,” he added.