By IANS,
Asansol (West Bengal) : The central government has received several proposals for setting up solar power plants that would generate a total of 2,000 megawatt, new and renewable energy secretary V. Subramanian said here.
“We have got proposals to set up solar power plants across India. Taken together, the proposals add up to 2,000 megawatt capacity. We will forward the proposals to the cabinet committee concerned and carry forward whatever decision they take,” Subramanian said.
He was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the country’s first grid-connected solar power project here.
“We had earlier planned to give incentives for generating an additional 50 megawatt from solar plants this year and have asked for expression of interest for that,” he said.
The department has kept aside Rs.1 billion for this. “But now, after receiving proposals for 2,000 megawatt, this cost will multiply.”
The cost of generating one megawatt of power from a solar plant is Rs.15-20 million.
Subramanian said the centre has also received applications for generating a total of 500 megawatt by setting up solar thermal plants.
Incidentally, West Bengal Green Energy Development Corp. (WBGEDC) is executing a Rs.400 million solar power project at the Dishergarh Power Station Complex in Burdwan district. The company has taken Rs.309 million loan from Power Finance Corp for the project.
The central government would pay a generation-based incentive of Rs.10 per unit.
Subramanian said although the cost of producing green power was quite high, it would be at par with conventional energy costs by 2017.