Nagpur : State energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule is going ahead with his green energy mission full steam. After tying up for 1,000 MW solar power at lowest rate in the country, he has asked MSEDCL to set up a 1,000 MW floating solar plant in Ujani dam (district Solapur) on built own operate transfer (BOOT) basis.
The discom has floated tenders for developing this plant through a private partner. The company has finalized ten ocations in the dam where panels having total capacity of 100 MW would be installed. The power would be supplied to farmers of Solapur and adjoining districts. The panels would reduce evaporation from the dam and save 1,000 million cubic feet (TMC) water.
Moreover, floating panels’ efficiency will be 6 to 7% more than normal ones. Floating solar plants in the country are a rarity. Mahagenco had planned to set up a loating solar plant in its Irai dam (district Chandrapur).
However, the consultant appointed by it found the proposal to be costly and the company dropped the project. However, Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA) is developing a 270 KW floating plant in Wadgaon dam (district Nagpur). A source in MSEDCL said that it would sign a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the developer for buying power for 25 years.
“The company offering the lowest rate will be awarded the tender. The maximum rate fixed by us is Rs3 per unit. We may appoint more than one company for the entire project as there are ten sites,” he added.
Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) had cleared the proposal on December 18 and the tender was floated on December 24. The bids will be opened on January 29.
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