Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
* IDENTIFIES 6000 ACRES OF PANCHAYAT AND PRIVATE LAND AVAILABLE FOR LEASE
* MAJOR PLAYERS LIKE PUNJ LLOYD, WELLSPUN, AZURE POWER, ESSEL, ACME, LANCO, LUMINOUS, NRIs AND INVESTORS From USA, ISRAEL AND FRANCE PART OF STATE’S SUCCESS STORY
* WITH WORLD CLASS INFRASTRUCTURE PUNJAB IS WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR DEVELOPERS
Chandigarh, June 28: Punjab is all set for setting up of 500 MW capacities Mega Solar PV Power Projects after big success in solar power in last three years. The bids have been invited through PEDA giving an opportunity to developers to bid from minimum 50 MW to maximum150 MW with Power Purchase Agreement for 25 years with the State power utility (PSPCL).
Disclosing this here today Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, New & Renewable Energy Minister said that the developers will have an option to put up the allocated capacity at single location or maximum 10 locations with minimum capacity of 5MW. He said that to facilitate the developers, PEDA has carried out an exercise and identified 6000 acers of land belonging to Village Panchayats and Private land owners, who are willing to give their land on lease for these projects. The successful developers will have an option to tie up with these land owners at terms and conditions to be decided by them with the land owners.
Mr. Majithia said that it becomes imperative to set up Solar PV power projects to harness the abundant solar potential in the state where Sunshine is available more than 300 days in a year. He disclosed that the state has taken major strides in the Solar Power Generation capacity addition from 9MW in 2012 to 206MW in 2015 and it could become possible with active participation of the private solar power developers. In addition in Phase-II, 282MW capacity Solar Power Projects have been allocated and Power Purchase Agreements signed, which comprises of 229MW ground mount and 53MW Rooftop projects. These projects are scheduled for commissioning by March’2016, he added.
Mr. Majithia pointed out that the higher capacity addition in the Solar Power Generation sector has been possible only due to lot of facilitation and single point clearance being provided by PEDA and Punjab Bureau of Investment & Promotion. PSPCL provides a 25 years bankable power purchase agreement. Due to these concerted efforts, major companies like Punj Lloyd, Wellspun, Azure Power, Essel, Acme, Lanco, Luminous, and investors from USA, FRANCE, ISREAL and Slovakia have invested more than Rs.1400 crore and set up Solar Power projects in the State.
Mr. Majithia said the State of Punjab provides one of the best infrastructures in the country providing good road connectivity up to the village level, 400KVA grid ring main system, more than 600 nos. 66KV sub-stations and each sub-station located within a 10KM radius, 132KV sub-station located within 30KM radius. Besides this, PSPCL is a profit making utility and has a B+ rating. The power from renewable energy projects is being evacuated to PSPCL / PSTCL sub-stations. The applicable incentives / benefits under the NRSE Policy-2012 shall be provided to the solar power project developers.
