Centre to Double Solar Park Target to 40,000 MW

The Government of India is working on doubling the power generation target from solar energy parks to 40,000 MW in the backdrop of slow offtake of rooftop solar and problems being faced by some project developers. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is keen to set up solar park projects with a cumulative capacity of 20,000 MW, in addition to the already launched such programme of 20,000 MW in 2014. There has been slow progress of rooftop solar projects as it is mainly being implemented by institutions, such as government offices, schools, and colleges. The scheme for ‘Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects’ had been rolled out by the MNRE in December 2014. The scheme has been conceived on the lines of ‘Charanka Solar Park’ in Gujarat which is a firstof-its-kind large scale solar park in the country with contiguous developed land and transmission connectivity. This scheme envisages supporting the states in setting up solar parks at various locations in the country with a view to create required infrastructure for setting up of solar power projects.

But, difficulties are being faced by the developers in executing the projects as in the case of SunEdison which had bid aggressively and won the project at a tariff of below RS 5 per unit.

The solar power tariff fell to an alltime low, with Finland-based energy firm Fortum Finnsurya Energy quoting Rs 4.34 a unit to bag the mandate to set up a 70 MW solar plant under NTPC’s Bhadla Solar Park tender.

Source: www.asianage.com