In another step towards production of carbon-neutral green energy, the State Government has expedited steps for more production of solar power.
This was discussed at a high-level meeting presided over by Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy here on Monday. Green Energy Development Corporation Limited (GEDCOL) Chairman Bishnupada Sethi presented the scope and commercial feasibility for production of more solar power in the State.
Tripathy directed the department to work out a detailed road map with time lines for enhancing solar power production on commercial basis. He directed to adopt latest technology for reducing the cost of production.
Sethi said the State has targeted to produce 1500 MW of solar power by the year 2022 to meet the renewable power obligation (RPO). State is now able to produce the solar power at competitive price of around Rs. 2.71 per unit and, hence, it is commercially feasible to ramp up commercial production through GEDCOL.
As of now, around 474 MW on-grid solar power plants have already been installed at different parts of the State through the GEDCOL and the OREDA. Besides, the OREDA has projects of 460 MW capacity in pipeline.
It was decided that the GEDCOL would develop 275-MW capacity solar parks at four locations in Sambalpur and Boudh districts and 500-MW capacity floating solar projects over large water reservoirs in partnership with the NHPC.