The stage is being set for the commencement of works for the proposed solar parks in Anantapur and Kurnool districts, which is considered as the focal areas for harnessing renewable energy, solar power in particular.
There was an overwhelming response to the tenders invited by the State government for the projects, with several multinational companies evincing interest in investing in the projects. The government has identified land for setting up 1000 MW solar power plants at Nambulapula Kunta (NP Kunta) in Anantapur district and Pinnapuram of Panyam mandal of Kurnool district. The government has already allotted land to the NTPC, the implementing agency for these projects. The project is proposed to be taken up with cooperation from the APGenco and the New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of AP.
The installed wind power facilities in the State has the capacity of producing 731 MW when compared to the potential of 14,500 MW and the case of solar energy with installed capacity of 113 MW is no different.
Tenders invited by the government for the projects evoked overwhelming response as bids received for a capacity addition of 1,296 MW as against the targeted 500 MW in the first phase.
Leading solar equipment manufacturing firm, First Solar, has submitted bid for setting up a 40 MW solar plant in Anantapur district.
It had offered to provide solar energy at a tariff of Rs. 5.25 a unit that was worked out to a level tariff of Rs. 6.17 per unit, lower than the earlier prescribed Rs. 6.49.
Bids have been submitted for capacity development of 580 MW followed by Chittoor (273 MW) and Kurnool (272 MW).
The per unit tariff offered by these bidders were between Rs. 5.25 to Rs. 8.08, with three per cent escalation every year. The cumulative capacity offered by the bidders with tariff up to Rs. 5.99 a unit was 619 MW against the bid capacity of 500 MW.
Even as evaluation of the bids was underway, a delegation of the Japanese major Soft Bank visited the locations in both the districts to study the available infrastructure that would help in setting up of the solar power units.
(With inputs from V.K.Rakesh Reddy and
D. Sreenivasulu)
