Jharkhand gets ready for big leap in solar power

Jharkhand is set to harness more than 2,600 MW of solar power in the next four-five years and roll out red carpet for large as well as small entrepreneurs in the field of solar photovoltaic power generation.

Jharkhand is set to harness more than 2,600 MW of solar power in the next four-five years and roll out red carpet for large as well as small entrepreneurs in the field of solar photovoltaic power generation.

Solar-panels-on-display-in-Ranchi-HT-Photo

A notification of the first Jharkhand State Solar Power Policy 2015, which got the state cabinet nod on July 28, is likely in the next couple of days, said state energy secretary SKG Rahate.
“The state aims to generate 2,650MW of solar power by 2019-20,” he said.

. At present, the aggregate solar power in Jharkhand is around 24-26MW.

The state on an average, generally witnesses more than 300 clear sky days with solar radiation between 4.5 and 5.5 kWh/sqm per day.

To facilitate the state’s endeavour, the Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission has announced the solar tariff for the next 25 years and pegged it at Rs 7.97 per unit of kilowatt hour (kWh).

The Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (JREDA) has been appointed as the nodal agency to implement the policy that aims at taping solar power potential in the state.

Sops will be provided to entrepreneurs, who are interested in setting up solar power plants in the state, said JREDA project director Arvind Kumar.

“There are sops for entrepreneurs in the state policy. It’s time for the investors to grab the opportunity,” he said.

The sops include duty free investment for 10 years, he said, adding that no environment clearance will be required for the projects.

Discoms-- power distribution companies-- will set up infrastructure to evacuate power from the SPV if a plant is situated within 10km from the nearest grid and exemption of electricity duty and banking charges if commissioned on time, he said.

The focus is on grid connected solar photo voltaic (SPV) plants, grid connected rooftop solar power plants (RTSPP), remote village electrification, SPV streetlights and distribution of solar lanterns.

There are two grid connected SPVs in Jharkhand - one at Saraikela with a capacity of 2MW and the other in Deoghar with 14MW capacity.

Several companies have shown their interest to set up SVPs in the state.

Chotanagpur Green Energy Development Private Limited is the front runner and the company intends to set up a 1.2MW grid connected SPV at Sikidiri in Ranchi.

The state has installed one 180kW rooftop solar power plants in Khunti civil court in the recent past.

Plans are afoot for providing solar pump sets of 1to 5hp (horse power) capacity to the farmers for irrigation.

More than 1,400 solar pumping stations will come up in the state under the scheme.