In an effort to promote and develop solar energy in the state, the Andhra Pradesh government has decided to invite tenders from private parties to set up plant to a capacity of 1,000 MW with the arrangement to buy back the electricity generated by them.
Friday, November 16, 2012: A unit price of Rs. 8.2 has been tentatively fixed for power generated by these plants, which is subject to approval by AP Electricity Regulatory Commission. Now, over Rs. 17 per unit is being paid on purchase of solar energy from the first batch of these plants. However, only a meager 23 MW capacity is available under these plants now as against 95 MW sanctioned by the Centre to the State under Phase I and II of Jawaharlal Solar Energy Mission (JSEM).
The decision to call for bids for 1,000 MW outside the purview of the JSEM was taken by chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy with ministers, including Anam Ramanarayan Reddy (Finance), J. Geetha Reddy (Major industries) and P. Sudarshan Reddy (Major Irrigation), chief secretary Minnie Mathew and senior officials.
Looking at the plight of power outage, Reddy wanted the solar projects to be completed within six months after starting of the work. The government was planning a scheme to link solar energy plants to its educational institutions for lighting, cooking and hot water purposes. AP New & Renewable Energy Development Corporation had been told to work out cost details.
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