In 6 years, JK harnessed 0.89 MU of its 110 GW solar potential
The state appears slow in harnessing its solar power potential of 110GW, the second highest in India after Rajasthan.
According to official sources, J&K could not generate a single unit of solar energy between 2013 and 2015. However, less than 0.89 Million Units (MU) were generated till November 2016.
The Green World Investor, an online portal covering developments related to renewable energy, placed J&K on 26th spot among 37 states it ranked on the basis of solar energy generation.
Dr P R Dhar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jammu And Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA), said they have not been able to identify land in the valley for starting a solar plant.
“For one 1MW, we require around five acres of earth land. We have not been able to identify land in the valley to start a megaproject,” Dhar said, calling it the “major hindrance” they encounter.
According to Dhar, Jammu and Kashmir has 110 GW solar potential, which can all be generated in Leh and Kargil where the solar radiations are best in the country.
In 2014, the central government signed an agreement with the state for generating about 7,500 MW of solar power— 5,000 MW in Ladakh and the rest in Kargil.
The CEO, however, said that the “solar plant at both the places cannot be set up”.
“There is no transmission availability in Leh or Kargil. Where will the generated supply go in absence of transmission lines?” he said, adding that the transmission lines were a costly affair and would take not less than 8-10 years.
“The cost gets escalated due to transmission lines, and if power generation costs a huge sum, we can’t sell it at a lower rate,” he said.
Dhar further said a five-Megawatt plant would be set up at both the places for demonstration purposes.
Failing to acquire land on its own, Dhar said that the JAKEDA would soon introduce a 450-MW “Farmer’s Scheme”.
The benefits would be offered at 70 per cent subsidised rate, but the farmers would have to set up the plant on their own lands.
“Under this scheme, the farmers can sell the power generated at their plants to the state Power Development Department,” Dhar said.
He claimed that JAKEDA has installed solar plants in around 70 hospitals with the capacity to generate around 5-50KW power. Another 122 power plants, with a total of 100-150 KW capacity, were set up in Community Information Centres, Block Development Offices, and a few academic institutions in J&K, he said.
The CEO said that the “agency will generate 450-MW power by 2020”.
He said the state government has only sanctioned two-megawatt project to the agency, of which it has completed work for generation of 203KW.
“We have floated the tenders, and we will soon be able to complete the two-megawatt project,” Dhar said, adding that the tenders for 56-megawatt solar plant have also been floated.
“Once the bidder is finalised, the implementation of the plant will start,” he said.
Source:KM
