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.
As per the latest data available with the Union Ministry of Power, a total of 543 villages have to be electrified under ‘off-grid’ mode compared to 101 through the conventional power supply grid as on May 31, 2016.
The Chhattisgarh government has targetted to install solar power plants with a total generation capacity of 1,700 MW during the coming months, Additional Chief Secretary, Energy Department, N Baijendra Kumar said last month.
Chairing a review meeting at the headquarters of Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) here, Kumar had stated that it is targetted to establish solar power plants in all the government establishments across the State.
He said that as per the directives of Chief Minister Raman Singh, the schools and Anganwadis must have the solar power plants established on a priority basis.
Kumar also asked officials that they should motivate the house owners and farmers to make maximum use of solar energy to meet their power supply requirements.
Kumar also stated that setting up solar power plants in remote settlements should be a priority.
He said that many private sector companies have evinced interest in generating solar power in the State.
Notably, Chhattisgarh intends to offer renewable energy equipment market for solar photo voltaic equipment worth Rs 32,000 crores during the next five years to investors who decide to establish projects in the State, officials stated.
The government is promising abundant and easy access to raw materials that go into equipment manufacturing for renewable energy sector.
Notably, a host of key Chinese companies from Zhengzhou city of Henan province in China signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) worth 945 million USD (approx. Rs 6,600 Crore) for setting up a wide set of industrial projects in Chhattisgarh during Chief Minister Raman Singh’s week-long tour to China recently.
As per the MoUs, Chinese companies will primarily invest in manufacturing of solar power equipment, railway and building construction material sectors in Chhattisgarh.
The Zhongli Talesun Solar Company limited will invest about 500 million USD in cable manufacturing, real estate and renewable energy sector. This MoU will help in developing a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of solar cell and solar panel in Chhattisgarh.
likewise, M/s Chongqing Changzheng Heavy Industry Co. ltd. has also inked MoU worth 20 million USD for developing Station Wagon industry in Chhattisgarh.
Chief Minister Raman Singh after signing of MoUs participated in the 10th International Investment and Trade fair at Zhengzhou and addressed a gathering of representatives from 25 different countries.
Notably, Public sector Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) will be setting up grid connected Solar PV projects across Chhattisgarh, on “Build Own Operate” basis for an aggregate capacity of 100 MW under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNUSM), officials informed.
SECI which is under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will enter into Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the bidders for purchase of supply of solar power for a period of 25 years.
Notably, JNNUSM is a major initiative of the Government of India with active participation from States to promote ecologically sustainable growth while addressing India’s energy security challenge. It will also constitute a major contribution by India to the global effort to meet the challenges of climate change.
The objective of the Mission is to establish India as a global leader in solar energy by creating the policy conditions for its large scale diffusion across the country as quickly as possible. The Mission had set a target, amongst others, for deployment of grid connected solar power capacity of 1,00,000 MW by 2022.
On the other hand, the Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) will be setting up 500 MW capacity solar parks in the State.
A detailed study of solar radiation resource assessment would be carried out with other climatic factors such as temperature, wind velocity, precipitation, officials stated.
Site accessibility details,through Rail / Road / Air would also be carried out.
A detailed study of solar radiation resource assessment would be carried out with other climatic factors such as temperature, wind velocity, precipitation, officials stated.
Notably, Chhattisgarh has achieved total commissioned grid connected solar power capacity of 73.18 MW as on January 14, 2016, the Central government has informed.