Nine new solar energy plants coming up in the country

The ministry of new and renewable energy has promoted the deployment of nine solar energy plants in the country during 2007-08, under various programmes including remote village electrification programme.

These plants are spread across six states, with Maharashtra housing three plants, two coming up in Jammu & Kashmir and one each in Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Orissa and West Bengal, which has been sanctioned the highest capacity of 945 kWp.

The total capacity sanctioned for these plants is under 2000 kWp, with the actual capacity under implementation is over 800 kWp.

All the six states have been sanctioned one solar photovoltaic power plant with Jammu & Kashmir and Maharashtra, also having been sanctioned a 'building integrated photovoltaic power plant' (BIPV) with a total sanctioned capacity of 18 kWp and an 8 kWp capacity SPV power pack.

All these projects are a part of the ministry's emphasis on providing power for village electrification programmes with partial financial support for locating photovoltaic power packs or plants in different parts of the country under various programmes including remote village electrification programme.

These projects are being implemented through state implementing agencies in each state, which have received partial financing from the centre. So far the ministry has channelised Rs40 crore including for four ongoing projects, expected to be completed during 2008-09.

The ministry considers projects for installation of solar photovoltaic power packs / plants on the basis of proposals submitted by the states.