BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has expressed its willingness to set up ultra mega solar power projects (UMSPPs) in joint venture with Central public sector units.
“The State Government would like to partner with NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) and other Central PSUs for furtherance of this ambitious project,” Energy Secretary Suresh Mohapatra wrote to Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Mohapatra’s letter was in response to MNRE Joint Secretary Tarun Kapoor asking the State Government to identify suitable sites and appointing a public sector undertaking (PSU) working in the field of power sector for setting up UMSPPs.
On September 22, Mahapatra had directed all district Collectors to identify 5,000 acres of land for setting up 1,000 mw UMSPPs in the State.
The Ministry had asked the State Government last month to identify sites and appoint a PSU working in the field of power sector for setting up UMSPPs. As per the Ministry’s direction, any single solar power project with capacity exceeding 500 mw will be declared as UMSPP.
Meanwhile, the State Government has appointed Green Energy Development Corporation Ltd (GEDCOL), a fully owned subsidiary of Odisha Hydro Power Corporation Ltd (OHPC), as the nodal agency for implementation of the projects.
After identification of sites for the solar parks/mini solar parks, a final decision regarding infrastructure will be made, Mahapatra said.
The Centre is in the process of formulating a scheme for providing financial assistance to UMSPPs.
The Ministry is also trying to arrange loans from multilateral/bilateral international lending agencies to cover the project cost.
As the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) is ready to go for joint venture with State PSUs, the State Government is in the search of degraded non-cultivable land in big patches of at least 100 acres each for establishment of UMSPPs, Mohapatra said in his reply.