NTPC-SAIl Power Company limited (NSPCl), a Joint Venture of NTPC ltd and Steel Authority of India ltd (SAIl) is in the process of setting up a 7 MWp Photo Voltaic Solar Power Project in the vicinity of Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) in Chhattisgarh, officials informed.
Notably, the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has set a Renewable Energy target of 1,783 MW to be generated from solar powered sources by the year 2022 in Chhattisgarh.
There are already about 3000 drinking water pumps operating using solar energy in Chhattisgarh, officials stated.
Chhattisgarh ranks first in the country in terms of providing drinking water through solar powered pumps, they stated.
Out of the total number of solar pumps installed in the entire country in financial year 2013-14, nearly 90 per cent of the solar pumps were installed in Chhattisgarh itself, they claimed.
The Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) under its 'Hot Water Supply Scheme' has established a plant in insurgency infested Kanker district of insurgency infested Bastar region to supply 10,100 litres of hot water per day to the various Government and private establishments.
Besides, the agency has also installed a plant to supply 7000 litres of hot water per day in Jungle Warfare Training Centre in the district.
This apart, a total of 30 solar powered equipment had also been installed in the primary health centers besides solar power plants had been established in Koyalibada, Civil Hospital, Pankhajur and at Prime Health Centre, Amabeda.
The solar powered equipment had helped during emergencies to operate the deep freezer and other key equipment in the health centers.
CREDA has also established a 25 Kw solar energy equipment in the Keshkal valley on Jagdalpur road about 30 kms from the district headquarters which had helped street lights remaining illuminated in the 6 kms length of the valley while preventing accidents.
There are also about 13 villages in the interior parts of Kanker district which cannot receive power supply in the conventional mode which now have solar powered street lights installed in the villages.
The installation of the solar powered equipment had benefitted nearly 4,000 families residing in the district.
Moreover, by installing over 1,100 solar pumps, pure and safe water supply has been made available to the inaccessible, non-electrified and tribal areas of the entire State. As they function with solar energy, water supply here is free from any kind of power hindrance.
Along with settlements, availability of clean and safe drinking water has been ensured in schools also. So far, arrangement for clean drinking water has been made in 46,975 schools in the State. In Aanganwadis also, clean drinking water arrangement for children has been made through hand pumps or tap connection.
At present, tube-well is the main source of drinking water in villages of the State. Because of irregular rainfall and excessive exploration of ground water, ground water level has been declined in some parts of the State. Quality of water has also been affected.
Moreover, after already achieving a significantly large solar power footprint across the State, the Chhattisgarh government is now getting all set to tap wind power in several parts of the State.
CREDA had recently invited offers from reputed Wind Farm owners, IPPs, wind farm developers and Wind Turbine manufacturers or empanelled lattice Wind Mast fabricators for implementation of Wind Resource Assessment (WRA) Programme and subsequent development as per the State government’s and National Institute of Wind Engergy ( formerly known as Centre for WindEnergy Technology ) ( C-WET) guidelines in Chhattisgarh State. It has also invited of Expression of Interest (EoI) for Implementation of Wind Resource Assessment in Uncovered/New Areas under NCEF Scheme and subsequent development at various locations in Chhattisgarh State.
Chhattisgarh has targetted solar power capacity addition in the range of 500 to 1000 MW by March 2017 as per the State’s Solar Energy Policy 2012, the Union Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has informed. Chhattisgarh Government is also planning to add 2,640 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.
It 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.
The State will soon also launch a ‘Solar Community Irrigation Project’ for drawing water extracted using solar pumps for supplying to the agricultural land of farmers across the State. The Central Government has released Rs 12 lakh each for Raipur and Bilaspur for the Solar City project, officials informed.
The total sanctioned funds for the two cities is Rs 43 lakh each. A total amount of Rs 67.01 crore has been sanctioned for preparation of master plans, solar city cells, promotional activities and installation of renewable energy projects and an amount of Rs 24.16 crore has been released, so far, under Solar City Programme.
Out of 7 identified solar cities in Maharashtra, an amount of Rs 7.74 crore has been sanctioned and an amount of Rs 3.04 crore has been released for 6 solar cities.
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 Rs 2.58 per kWh in FY 2015-16 to Rs 3.12 per 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.
Chhattisgarh has two ‘waste-to-energy’ power plants proposed with a total installed capacity of 10 MW, officials informed.
Notably, five Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) to energy plants with a cumulative installed capacity of 66.5 MW are currently operational/under trial run in the country.
The Chhattisgarh Government has decided to set up a ‘Waste to Energy’ power generation plant in Durg district.
The Government intends to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) administration for jointly taking up the project, officials informed.
The project is proposed to be undertaken under ‘Swachch Bharat Abhiyan’ under the Government’s solid waste management project.
The proposed ‘Waste to Energy’ plant would utilise waste generated from municipal corporations of Bhilai, Durg, Bhilai-Charoda, two municipal councils mainly Jamul and Kumhari and three Nagar Panchayats mainly Utai, Patan and Gunderdehi.