Karnataka’s solar energy sector got a boost on Thursday with the signing of a power purchase agreement with the US-based Sun Edison to buy power from its proposed 150-MW solar power plant being set up at a cost of Rs. 1,500 crore.
Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company and Hubli Electricity Supply Company signed separate power purchase agreements with Sun Edison here on Thursday to buy power from the proposed plant to be set up in about 18 months from now. The plant will generate about 225 million units of green energy a year.
The proposed plant, which is the State’s biggest ever, will require 750 acres of land. The company, which is scouting for land in different districts, is yet to finalise the location of its plant. The company officials said that they were considering various options such as setting up the entire plant at one location or in five different locations depending upon the availability of land.
The two Escoms will buy power from the proposed plant at an average rate of about Rs. seven a unit.
1,000 MW in 18 months
Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar described the event as “historical,” while maintaining that it was a beginning of the implementation of the state’s mega plan to set up solar power plants with a total capacity of 1,000 MW within 18 months.
He explained that the proposed plant with a capacity of 150 MW was part of a scheme under which tenders had been called for setting up solar power plants with a total capacity of 500 MW. The other companies which too have been chosen under the scheme will soon set up their plants, he said.
Additional Chief Secretary, Energy Department, P. Ravi Kumar, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited Managing Director G. V. Balaram and Hescom Managing Director Khushboo Goel Choudhari and Sun Edison’s Asia Pacific President Pashupathy Gopalan were also present on the occasion.
