23.5.11

Nod for 2 Maha solar plants

The Maharashtra government gave energy generation from renewable sources a major boost. The state cabinet approved setting up of two solar power projects with a capacity to generate 154 MW power. Approval was given for setting up two units—one of 125 MW and another 25 MW—at Shivajinagar in Dhule. Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said that the project would be among the biggest of its kind in the world. Approval was also granted for another 5MW solar power project at Chandrapur. Chavan announced that the projects will be taken up by the state-owned Mahagenco. The cabinet also agreed to fund 20 % (Rs 397.40 crore) of the collective project cost for the two projects, which was estimated at Rs1,987 crore. Of the financial grant, Rs 200 crore will be disbursed in the current financial year, while the remaining would be given in the next fiscal. The government will tie up with German firm KFW for the Dhule plant. Some of the power generated at this plant is likely to be routed to Mumbai. Chavan announced that the government had entered into an agreement with the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) for tapping the power generated. An agreement had also been inked with MahaDiscom, the state-run energy distribution agency. The Chandrapur plant is expected to be in place before July 1, 2011, while the Dhule plant would be operational from March 31, 2012. Both the projects will be based on photovoltaic technology.

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