NTPC Limited, the largest power producer in India, has a pipeline of about 4 GW of solar power capacity, and is looking to significantly expand its solar power plans.
The company recently announced that it has signed yet another agreement to set to a large-scale solar power plant in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The installed capacity of the project will be 375 MW and will require a total investment of ₹3,000 crore ($500 million).
The Indian government is planning to install 22 GW solar power capacity in the form of ultra mega solar power projects. These will be set up across 25 locations in the country with each having a minimum capacity of 500 MW. The largest among them is expected to be 7.5 GW project in Jammu & Kashmir.
NTPC has been talked with the development of a number of solar power projects. The company’s pipeline has proposed UMPPs in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh. There is every possibility that other states will also enter similar agreements with the company. The larger of the UMPPs are expected to be commissioned jointly by a number of government-owned companies.
Uttar Pradesh is an agricultural state with high population density as a result of has the lowest wasteland availability in the country. The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has thus decided to decentralize the UMPP. In addition to the 375 MW project three other projects each with 50 MW capacity will also be set up taking the cumulative capacity to 525 MW.
Uttar Pradesh has among the highest power demand among all states in India, and has been struggling to add enough power generation capacity to meet this demand due to several reasons, including scarcity of coal, and politics. Solar power would thus prove to be a valuable alternative.
Image credit: Shutterstock
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