Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has received an extraordinary response for the development of 300 MW solar photovoltaic power (SPV) projects in State.
Big giants like Moser Baer, Punj llyod, Azzure have evinced keen interest in setting up these projects in the State.
Describing it as a giant foot forward, Punjab Non Conventional Energy Minister Bikram Singh Majithia said that it would bring investment to the tune of about Rs2,200 crores by big industries within the next 15 months. He added that the project would also provide gainful employment to about 7,000 people in the state.
Majithia added that the solar power projects would also help the State to meet its peak load power requirements. Besides, it would also reduce the green house gas emission discharge to the tune of about 3.50 lakh tonne per annum which is a mammoth step of the Government towards providing clean and green energy and which is also the need of the hour for sustainable development.
Subsequent to the pre-bid conference held in April, the techno-commercial bids were opened by PEDA on Tuesday, and it has received a phenomenal response.
More than 30 companies participated in the aforesaid bid process and against the targeted allocation for an in-house capacity of 300 MW solar power projects, total bids for 270 MW were received.
The evaluation of bids shall now follow verification of technological competence of the eligible bidders, based on which, the price bids of the qualifying companies shall be opened.
Majithia said that it is a huge impetus put forth by the Government in the field of non-conventional energy.
“The state is set to harness this untapped potential by venturing out in this non-conventional sector. It is a quantum jump in comparison to the current installed capacity of nine MW,” he added.