The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Grid-linked solar power generation units planned

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Sunday, Aug 10, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Grid-linked solar power generation units planned

B.S. Satish Kumar

Nine units planned will have a total capacity of 44 MW
Cost of generation likely to be Rs. 20 a unit

BANGALORE: To harness solar energy on a larger scale, the State Government is considering a proposal to set up grid-connected solar power generating units.

KREDL helping firms

The State-owned Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd. (KREDL) is working towards helping power generating companies set up nine grid-connected solar power units in different areas of the State with a total capacity of 44 MW.

According to sources, KREDL has forwarded to the Government nine applications from different power generating companies, including Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd., that have evinced interest in setting up such grid-connected solar units.

Under this programme, the company will use photovoltaic cells to generate power, which will be wheeled into the State grid.

Many interested

Several power companies have already shown interest in setting up such solar units in Bellary, Raichur, Gulbarga, Tumkur, Hubli-Dharwad, Mysore and Yelahanka. KPCL is said to be keen on setting up three solar generating units.

Short gestation

Sources in the KREDL said that it was possible to set up solar generating units within a year after getting the land for the project.

These units can generate power for about 330 days a year. Several States including West Bengal and Haryana have set up such grid-connected units.

Solar power generation is not new to the State with several industrial units and some government establishments having installed solar power generating units. But such units are of very small capacity (below one MW). Besides, most such units are for internal consumption of industrial units.

However, the proposed grid-connected solar units will not only have a capacity ranging from 1 MW to 10 MW, but will also supply all the power generated by them to the State grid.

According to sources, generation of one unit of power from these solar units is expected to cost around Rs. 20 unlike conventional power, which costs Rs. 3 to Rs. 4.

Incentive

However, the selling cost of power will be lower as the Centre will provide an incentive of about Rs. 12 per for every unit of power generated by such solar units.

Another advantage is that the generating company is likely to recover the investment made on the plant in about 10 years. After that the cost of generation will reduce drastically.

No pollution

Above all, the ongoing power crisis, which has resulted in power cuts and purchase of power at a high cost from other States, has prompted the State to promote grid-connected solar generating units even if the cost of power generated by them is on the higher side. Besides, these units are pollution free.

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