The green energy consumption level of Karnataka is set to increase as the State will start getting 500 MW of solar power from the 2000-MW solar park at Pavagada in Tumakuru district from September 2017.
Announcing this after the signing of the power sale agreements (PSAs) between the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and the five Escoms of the State on Tuesday, Karnataka Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the State would get the remaining 1,500 MW of power from the solar park from September 2018.
The Pavagada solar park, which is the country’s biggest, is coming up on nearly 12,000 acres of land. Of the total capacity of 2,000 MW, the NTPC itself will develop 1,600 MW.
Of this, 600 MW is being taken up under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission which would be available at Rs. 3.30 a unit.
The 500 MW of power, which will be made available by the NTPC under the first phase from September 2017, will be shared among the five Escoms. Bescom will get the highest share of 46.39 per cent followed by Hescom (19 per cent) and Gescom (15.12 per cent).
As the solar power is available during daytime, the government is also planning to supply this to farmers. Presently, farmers are getting only a part of the three-phase power during daytime to operate their irrigation pump sets.
The land for the Pavagada solar park has been taken from farmers on lease of Rs. 21,000 a year.
Power sale agreements signed between NTPC and Escoms
