Industry Updates

In 2021, the state government decided to set up a floating solar power plant on four dams in the state, and invited expressions of interest (EoI) to set up grid-connected floating solar power plants at these sites. These plants will be set up on the four dams on a design, built, finance, and operate model for 25 years.

Twelve companies showed interest to set up the floating solar power plants, but this did not see the light of the day.

A senior official said that the objectives of the Eol include solar power generation, conservation of water due to reduced evaporation, creation of employment to the rural community, and higher solar generation due to the ‘maintained’ temperature of solar panels.

In another project involving SGEL, the PSU has partnered with Norwegian consultant M/s Ocean Sun for the implementation of a membrane-based floating pilot project ranging from 1 to 2 MW, in line with the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between SGEL and the department of new and renewable energy.

Two sites have been identified for the pilot project the breakwater of the Mormugao Port Authority’s port site, and downstream in the Mandovi river, adjacent to the Naval jetty. Officials of SGEL and Goa energy development agency (GEDA) conducted site visits to these locations. Partial data of the MPA site was shared with SGEL, and the Mandovi site would be shared after clearance and allocation by the caption of ports, a senior official said. Explore Your Financial Landscape with Personalized Credit Insights.

Source : Timesofindia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the government will start ‘Pradhanmantri Surydaya Yojana’, an initiative to generate electricity through solar power

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that the government will start ‘Pradhanmantri Surydaya Yojana’, an initiative to generate electricity through solar energy. He announced the decision after returning home from Ayodhya, wherein he had presided over the consecration ceremony of Ram temple.

“All the devotees of the world always get energy from the light of Suryavanshi Lord Shri Ram. Today, on the auspicious occasion of consecration in Ayodhya, my resolution got further strengthened that the people of India should have their own solar roof top system on the roof of their houses,” the prime minister posted on social platform X.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony LIVE coverage

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“The first decision I have taken after returning from Ayodhya is that our government will launch “Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana” with the target of installing rooftop solar on 1 crore houses. This will not only reduce the electricity bill of the poor and middle class, but will also make India self-reliant in the energy sector,” he added.

The PM posted pictures of him discussing the scheme with officials here following his return from Ayodhya.

Earlier in the day, the prime minister presided over the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, UP governor Anandiben Patel. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat were present at the ceremony in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

More than 7,000 invitees including film stars, sportspersons, saints, industrialists and musicians attended the grand event.

“”This is India’s time and India is going to move forward. After waiting for centuries we have reached here. We all have waited for this era, this period. Now we will not stop. We will continue to reach the heights of development,” the prime minister said after the event.

Modi thanked the Judiciary of India for “keeping the dignity of justice intact. Embodiment of justice, Shri Ram’s temple was constructed through just means”, he emphasized. The Supreme Court in 2019 had settled the decades-old dispute

The Prime Minister informed that the entire nation including small villages is witnessing processions and cleanliness campaigns are being carried out in temples.

Source : Hindustantimes

Ayodhya will transform in a solar city with the installation of 470 solar street lights over an area of 10.2 km city between Guptar Ghat and Nirmali Kund.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s vision to transform Ayodhya into a solar city is about to get a boost through establishment of the world’s largest ‘solar powered street lights line’, with the installation of 470 solar street lights over an area of 10.2 km city between Guptar Ghat and Nirmali Kund.

The unique feat will also see Ayodhya find entry into the the Guinness Book of World Records once again, with the earlier one taking place during Deepotsav with the lighting of the highest number of earthen lamps.

Under the guidance of CM Adityanath, the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has already completed approximately 70 per cent of the installation work, while the remaining 160 solar street lights will be installed before January 22.

Ayodhya UPNEDA project officer Praveen Nath Pandey said here on Tuesday that by January 22, a world record will be set in the temple city with the installation of 470 solar street lights in a 10.2 km stretch from Lakshman Ghat to Guptar Ghat, extending up to Nirmali Kund.

He added that under the project, 310 solar lights have been installed from Lakshman Ghat to Guptar Ghat, while work is ongoing to install 160 solar-powered street lights in the stretch between Guptar Ghat and Nirmali Kund, covering a distance of 1.85 km. All these solar-powered street lights are LED-based, operating at 4.4 watts, and equipped with smart technology. Through their installation, the 10.2 km stretch from Lakshman Ghat to Nirmali Kund will be illuminated with a radiant glow.

The world record that the state government aims to break through a solar energy-powered project is currently registered in the name of Malham of Saudi Arabia, where 468 solar-powered lights were installed over a stretch of 9.7 km in 2021. Now, the Yogi government is gearing up to surpass this record in Ayodhya by installing 470 solar-powered lights in an area spanning 10.2 km.

Earlier, Ayodhya got listed in the Guinness Book of World Records during Diwali in 2023, when 25,000 volunteers from Avadh University lit 22.23 lakh lamps together at the ghats of river Sarayu.

Discussions are underway between the local administration, officials of UPNEDA, and representatives of the Guinness Book of World Records in this context.

source : thestatesman

Punjab State Power Corporation Limited signs ninth PPA in two years for 2,800MW of solar power at an average cost of ₹2.51/unit

In its ninth power purchase agreement (PPA) since the Aam Aadmi Party government took charge two years ago, the Punjab State Power Corporation will buy 300 MW from Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) for an economical ₹2.72/unit.

The agreement was signed on December 30, 2023, and is a step towards PSPCL meeting its target of procuring 6,000 MW of solar power. The PSPCL hopes to bring down the average cost of power purchase, which is Rs. 4.30/unit from all its resources at present.

So far, the PSPCL has nine PPAs for 2,800MW of solar power at an average rate of ₹2.51/ unit. Most of these PPAs have been signed with public sector companies (see box) for 25 years.

The PSPCL has floated tenders for another 2,500 MW of power and these will be opened in two months. This includes a 1,000 MW solar power plant in Punjab.

As on October 31, 2023, 1,266.6 MW of solar power was generated in Punjab at an average cost of ₹6.50/unit.

“At present, the average cost of solar power is ₹6.50/unit as PPAs were signed without bidding earlier. For the past two years, every PPA is made after bidding with a ceiling on the rates. The new PPA will help cut cost,” said a senior PSPCL official.

The official said that the PSPCL is working to ensure that power is available during the peak demand season of paddy sowing in summer. It hopes to use solar power to run tubewells.

All India Power Engineer Federation spokesman VK Gupta admitted that initially solar power was costly, but Punjab should have done reverse bidding. “PPAs are signed only through calling expression of interest. Once reverse bidding starts, prices fall. Buying solar power will help meet the demand in summer with no additional impact of fixed cost, which is huge in the case of private thermal plants,” he said.

State power minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said buying power at an average cost of ₹2.50/unit was possible because the AAP government ensured transparent bidding.

source : hindustantimes