Neyveli Lignite plans major renewable energy foray
29 Sep 2015
Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited (NLC), which is administered by the coal ministry, plans to set up solar power plants to produce 4000 megawatt (MW) of power.
Going by current prices, the whole project will attract investment to the tune of Rs28,000-30,000 crore.
After inaugurating NLC's new 10 MW Solar Power Project at Neyveli, B Surender Mohan, chairman and managing director, said that NLC, in line with the National Solar Mission of the union government, the proposed projects will come up in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Karnataka, Kerala, Telungana and Rajasthan.
The company will participate in the Solar Power Parks, announced by the state governments. These projects will be implemented based on land availability and techno-economic viability of the project.
To start with, he said, land has been identified in Neyveli Township for the installation of 130 MW of solar power. Apart from that, the company has taken a decision for setting up 25 MW pf solar power in Barsingsar, Rajasthan at a cost of Rs167.29 crore.
NLC is now operating a thermal power stations of 4,240 MW capacity in Neyveli, Barsingsar in Rajasthan State and Thoothukudi. NLC is lignite mining and power generating company.
The company is expanding its power generating capacity by setting up of coal based power station and renewable energy projects like windmills and solar power plants.
To start with, the company has established a 10 MW solar photo volatic project at Neyveli, at a cost of Rs74.60 crore. This is the first renewable energy project commissioned by NLC, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, The Engineering, Procurement and Commissioning Contractor of this project, will operate and maintain the project for a period of 3 years, after the performance guarantee period of one year.
To date, the project has generated 8.65 lakh units of electricity during the trial-run period. The entire power will be fed to Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation. The power purchase agreement for the project had already been signed.