February 11, 2015: Odisha shows its solaridity and support in the National Solar Mission continues as the state government is planning to generate 1000MW of solar power in the state by 2020 with the help of three to four solar parks. The target was fixed in its draft Odisha Solar Park Policy, 2014. The main objective of this policy is to generate clean solar energy in the state. This in turn will enhance the sustainable development process and at the same time, address the issues related to climate change.
The implementation of the policy will be done with the help of two models – Green Energy Development Corporation of Odisha (GEDCOL) and a private developer model. Green Energy Development Corporation of Odisha (GEDCOL) is the model in which a 100 per cent subsidiary of Odisha Hydro Power Corporation, will be the nodal agency for implementation of solar parks. GEDCOL has a possibility of getting into a partnership with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for this purpose. According to this model, GEDCOL will also develop the solar parks and will be responsible for providing infrastructural facilities including approach roads, boundary wall, water, auxiliary power and power evacuation facility.
On the other hand, under the private developer model, as the name suggests, the onus of all departments will lie on the shoulders of only the private developer. As an incentive all project developers and manufacturers setting up their projects in the solar parks are slated to get a value added tax (VAT) exemption on various solar energy equipments.
This move towards solar power development by Odisha’s state government is certain indication towards conscious steps taken towards the development. This is not only because it is eco-friendly, it is also because the power generated by solar energy can save a lot of costs incurred on energy and can meet the lack of overall power generated.
