Odisha plans solar power projects to ramp up renewable energy generation

    Bhubaneswar, Jul 7 (PTI) The Odisha government is
planning several solar power projects to enhance the renewable
energy generation in the state, officials said on Monday.
    Chief Secretary A K Tripathy, during a high-level
meeting, directed officials to work out a detailed road map
with time frames to enhance solar power generation on a
commercial basis, they said.
    He suggested that the Green Energy Development
Corporation (GEDCOL) and the Odisha Renewable Energy
Development Agency (OREDA) adopt the latest technology to
reduce the cost of production, the officials said.
    Both the state-run bodies work in the field of
renewable energy.
    "The state needs to produce 1,500 MW of solar power by
the year 2022 to meet the renewable power obligation (RPO). At
present, Odisha is capable of generating solar power at a
competitive price of around Rs. 2.71 per unit and hence, it is
commercially feasible to ramp up the production," GEDCOL
Chairman B P Sethi said.
    Solar power plants with a total capacity of 474 MW
have been installed by GEDCOL and OREDA in different parts of
the state, he said.
    Also, OREDA has projects in the pipeline that will
generate 460 MW solar power, the official said.
    During the meeting, it was resolved that GEDCOL will
set up four solar parks in Sambalpur and Boudh districts with
a total capacity of 272 MW.
    It will also set up floating solar power projects,
with a total capacity of 500 MW, on large reservoirs in
partnership with the National Hydroelectric Power Generation
Company (NHPC), Sethi said.
    He said GEDCOL has expedited steps to set up rooftop
solar power plants with a total capacity of 19 MW and other
similar ground-based plants with a capacity of 8 MW. PTI AAM
ACD ACD

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)