State's first solar energy plant comes up in Balangir August 12, 2011 10:24:35 PM

State's first solar energy plant comes up in Balangir
August 12, 2011 10:24:35 PM
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SUDHIR MISHRA | Balangir

Sunny and sweltering days have proved be a boon for people of the drought-prone Balangir district as they are now being harnessed to generate clean and green solar energy as a substitute of electricity through the use of solar photovoltaic panel.

The district solar energy producing installations have drawn the distinction by producing the solar energy for the first time and selling it to GRIDCO since July 14 last.

Set up by Hyderabad-based Raajratna Energy Holdings Private Limited (REHPL), a company engaged in the development of renewable energy projects, at Sadeipali, five km from here, the solar power plant which is third in India and first in Odisha, has been generating 1MW power from sun rays.

It has been implemented under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) of Rooftop Photo Voltaic and Small Solar Power Generation Programme (RPSSGP) Scheme of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The project was executed by AIC Projects GmbH, Germany and KSK Surya-Hyderabad, informed an official.

The land acquisition for this project started in January and construction started in February and was completed in July. The plant is spread over seven acres of land. A total of 10,000 solar panel power modules have been installed and the solar panel has been imported from China, informed project coordinator Manas Ranjan Swain.

A total of Rs.16 crore has been invested under the JNNSM, which was financed by Rural Electrification Corporation, New Delhi. The plant is generating 1MW power daily and we are selling it to GRIDCO at Rs.8.52 per unit. As the sun rays fall on the solar panel, it starts generating power. There is an inverter which after getting 4 kilowatt energy becomes functional and the inverter converts the DC currents to AC, explained Ganesh, the plant- in- charge. Even in rainy days, a total of 30 to 40 per cent energy is produced, he said further.

While the generation of power during the cloudy and rainy days is less, in the sunny days it is high. There is abundant sunray in the district and it should be harnessed. While the whole world is worried about the pollution, clean and renewable energy should be harnessed extensively for the benefits of mankind, he explained further.

A total of eight such units would be set up in Odisha. We are supplying the power during day time and meeting the requirement of Chandabhati and Sadeiepali area, informed Swain. Besides, we are also planning to expand it by setting a five megawatt plant there.

Moreover, NTPC is also going to set up 30MW power plant here too, he said. REHPL has expressed its gratitude to Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) for its timely funding of the project.

The major constraint is heavy investment and absence of power purchase agreement, Swain said. “It is satisfying to note that the first ever power plant of Odisha to generate electricity from sunrays has become functional at Sadeipali in Balangir, he maintained.

While the demand for energy is growing rapidly and the whole world is worried over increasing pollution, time has come to harness non-conventional source of energy like solar and wind, which are clean and green. With abundant sunray in the district, it should be harnessed extensively. Besides meeting the energy requirement of people, this project gives a boost to other ancillary industries and creates livelihood opportunities for the people,” said Balangir MP Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo.
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