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

Dear all
I enclose the news on Solar power plant for your perusal. one sentence
indicatethat the power is being sold at 8.52paise.Actually it is
18.52paise per unit.The typological error is regretted
yours
SudhirMishra

BHUBANESWAR | Saturday, August 13, 2011 | Email | Print | | Back
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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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SudhirMishra
Journalist
The Pioneer
Balangir(Odisha)
94374-30812