Odisha targets 1.5GW solar power generation capacity in the state by 2022
A high-level meeting was held to review and prepare a roadmap for Odisha government’s plan to increase the solar power generation in the state to 1500 MW by 2022.
The Odisha government has set a target to increase its solar power generation capacity to 1500 MW by 2022. This way the state would be able to focus on carbon-neutral green energy and will also be to meet its renewable power obligations (RPO).
As the State is now capable of producing solar power at competitive prices; it opens up the opportunity to ramp up commercial production of solar power in the state. Thus, a high-level meeting was held on last Monday – June 6, 2020.
At the meeting Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy reviewed the progress made so far and directed the Green Energy Development Corporation (GEDCOL) to work out the detailed road map with timelines to enhance solar power production on a commercial basis as well as the adoption of the latest technology to reduce the production cost.
Meeting Outcome
In this meeting, it was decided that GEDCOL would develop 275 MW solar power parks at four locations in Sambalpur and Boudh district and 500 MW solar floating capacity projects in partnership with NHPC over large water reservoirs in the state.
Principal Secretary & Chairman GEDCOL Bishnupada Sethi stated that GEDCOL has speeded up steps for 19 MW capacity of grid-connected solar roof plants as well as 8 MW ground-based solar plants at different places.
In addition, at the meeting, OREDA also received in-principal approval for its proposal for removal of the current MW limitations.
Current State Scenario
As per the state government data available, so far, about 474 MW of on-grid solar power plants have already been set up in various parts of the state through GEDCOL and OREDA.
While, the GEDCOL has set up a grid-connected solar plant of about 362 MW in the state – through both public and private investments.
Similarly, OREDA has installed an on-grid capacity of about 112 MW. In addition, OREDA has 460 MW capacity projects in the pipeline.
