Solar energy cheaper than coal-generated energy in MP: CM Mohan Yadav

CM Yadav while speaking at the 4th Global Renewable Energy Investor Meet informed that for the first time in the country, solar energy cheaper than coal-generated energy has been made available through the solar energy park established under the Rewa Solar Project.

in MP: CM Mohan YadavChief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Mohan Yadav has said that the renewable energy capacity of the state in the year 2012 was less than even 500 MW. By forming a separate department, through policies and various incentives, we have increased the capacity 14 times in 12 years and have achieved the target of 7 thousand MW. For the first time in the country, solar energy cheaper than coal-generated energy has been made available through the solar energy park established under the Rewa Solar Project. This project also provided electricity to the Delhi Metro. It has been included as a case study at Harvard University. The electricity tariff at Neemuch Solar Park of Agar-Shajapur-Neemuch Solar Project is INR 2.14 per unit, which is the lowest in the country. The project is supplying electricity to the state as well as the Indian Railways. A 1500 MW capacity solar park is under construction in Agar-Shajapur-Neemuch. The Chief Minister revealed this during the interaction with the industrialists at the 4th Global Renewable Energy Investor Meet in Gandhinagar. 

    The Chief Minister said that Madhya Pradesh has the power to make the impossible possible. The world’s largest floating solar project of 600 MW capacity is being developed at Omkareshwar on the Narmada River, in which 200 MW panels of the project have been installed. The floating solar project will reduce water loss through evaporation and the project will not require any displacement. He further said that Madhya Pradesh is the ‘Heart of Incredible India’. With almost one-third of the forest area and leading work in renewable energy, Madhya Pradesh has the vision of becoming the “Lungs of Incredible India”. We will produce more than 20 thousand MW of renewable energy in the coming years and by 2030, 50 per cent of the energy will come from renewable sources. The target is to install solar rooftops on all government buildings by 2025 in mission mode.

Madhya Pradesh government is considering making necessary changes in the existing Pumped Hydro Action Plan of the state for the smooth development of pumped hydro energy storage projects so that all investors can easily invest in the state. 15 thousand hectares of land have been identified in Agar, Dhar, Ashoknagar, Bhind, Shivpuri, and Sagar districts, where 7 thousand 500 MW solar energy capacity will be installed. The target is to install 3 thousand MW of wind energy in Ujjain, Agar, Dhar, Mandsaur, and Ratlam. The work of producing energy from Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) is also being done in Madhya Pradesh and we are also considering utilising the unusable lands like the ravines of Chambal for the production of Compressed Bio Gas.

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The Chief Minister said that we are setting up a 227. 54-acre state-of-the-art manufacturing zone in Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh for INR 464.65 crore to promote renewable energy. In this zone, Madhya Pradesh is providing attractive incentives on land, electricity, and water charges like allotment of land at a token amount of INR 1, the annual rate of lease rent at Re 1 per square meter, electricity rate (tariff) at INR 4. 36 paise per unit on discount for the first 5 years, etc. Chief Minister Yadav assured the Prime Minister that Madhya Pradesh will play an important role in achieving the target of 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030.

In the second phase of the programme, Chief Minister Yadav held a one-to-one meeting with domestic and foreign investors regarding investment in Madhya Pradesh. Major investors from Madhya Pradesh including Wind Power Association, Hero Future Energy, Torrent Power, Shakti Pumps, Sembcorp Singapore, VariEnergy, Serentica Renewables, Renew Power, Shell Group, Suzlon, Welspun, Vena Energy, Blueleaf Borosil Group, State Craft, Madhya Pradesh Renewable Energy Minister Rakesh Shukla, Additional Chief Secretary Manu Srivastava, Principal Secretary Industries Raghavendra Singh were also present. In a personal discussion, Chief Minister Dr Yadav invited investors to invest in the field of renewable energy in the state. The Chief Minister assured that any impending hurdle in this regard will be removed by the State Government.

Investors show interest in Madhya Pradesh

The Wind Power Association requested Chief Minister Yadav to develop a wind park on the lines of the solar park. Avada Group proposed an investment of about INR 5000 crore in the state. Torrent Power requested to quickly issue a policy for the development of pumped hydro storage projects in the state. Sembcorp Group expressed interest in investing in the proposed Morena and Neemuch solar projects in the state. Renew Power also expressed interest in investment of about INR 6000 crore in the state. Given the blade production unit established by Suzlon Energy in the state, the state government was requested to invite tenders for wind projects in Madhya Pradesh itself, so that wind energy projects can be established in the state itself. Spring Energy requested to develop a wind energy park on the lines of Rewa Solar Park. Vari Energy expressed interest in setting up a solar power plant in the state. Information about the current investments made by Cerantica and Blue Leaf in the state was given and necessary cooperation was expected for the development of the projects. Borosil Group expressed interest in building a glass production unit for solar panels in the state. The tendency of national-level developers to invest in the state in the field of renewable energy is a sign of their confidence in the state’s renewable energy policies and proves that the state is a ‘land of opportunities’.