The State Government is going for installation of more number of solar photovoltaic power plants in Jashpur,, Korba , Surguja , Bastar, Kanker and Dantewada districts, officials informed.
The Central Government has also approved 11.2 MWp of power generation capacity from grid connected roof-top power plants in Chhattisgarh as on January 31, 2017.
Nationally, an amount of Rs 600 crore has been allocated for the projects under “Grid Connected Rooftop and Small Solar power Plants Programme” and Rs. 508.84 Crore has been released as on the aforesaid period, the Central Government has informed.
The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has been promoting “Grid Connected Rooftop and Small Solar Power Plants Programme” with a Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of upto 30% of benchmark cost in General category States and up to 70 % in Special Category States, North Eastern States, lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Residential, Institutional and Social sector are covered under this CFA pattern.
For Government Sector, achievement linked incentive up to Rs 18750/kWp in General Category States and Rs.45000/kWp in Special Category States , North Eastern States and Andaman & Nicobar Islands and lakshadweep is available under the Programme, it informed.
Notably, Chhattisgarh will procure additional power from renewable energy sources to the tune of approximately 700 MW by FY 2018, officials informed.
With this the average power purchase cost for Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company ltd (CSPDCl) based on the above power availability will increase from 2.58 Rs/kWh in FY 2015-16 to 3.12 Rs/kWh in FY 2018, they informed.
The rates have been derived based on cost of power at existing rates and considering no escalation in power purchase cost since it is passing through for the distribution company.
Notably, Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) has invested Rs 400 crores during the last 11 years in developing infrastructure for solar power generation which had resulted in 40 MW of electricity being generated from non conventional energy sources.
The agency will be installing a total of 10,000 submersible and surface solar photo voltaic (SPV) irrigation pumps in farm lands soon across the State.
The SPV Pumps shall be provided with lightening and over voltage protection.
The principal aim in this protection is to reduce the over voltage to a tolerable value before it reaches the PV or other sub-systems components.
The source of over voltage can be lightening or any other atmospheric disturbance, officials informed.
Notably, the State government has already commenced preparation for setting up 51,000 solar powered irrigation pumps in a span of two-and-half-years in the State.
The government has set the target of setting up 11,000 solar pumps in the current financial year till March 2017 and the rest during the next two years.
Notably, Chhattisgarh government is also planning to add 2640 MW of additional renewable energy capacity by financial year 2018-19, officials informed.
The State currently has total renewable energy potential of 4,500 MW which includes solar (grid connected and roof top), wind biomass and small hydro.
The State has also planned to install solar powered pump sets for agriculture consumers which will benefit 16,000 consumers.
It may be recalled that there are significantly more number of villages which are to be electrified in Chhattisgarh using the off-grid (solar) mode than the grid-based (conventional power supply) mode.
The State currently has total renewable energy potential of 4,500 MW which includes solar (grid connected and roof top), wind biomass and small hydro.
