AP eyes 500 Mw solar power

The Andhra Pradesh government is aiming to generate 500 Mw power through solar energy. While AP Genco is setting up 100 Mw solar power plants, private players have planned 400 Mw capacity.

The private companies have already submitted their bids to government in this regard, A Chandra Sekhara Reddy, chief executive officer, State Energy Conservation Mission (SECM), told mediapersons here on Wednesday.

Under the energy conservation mission, the government is taking steps to save at least 5 per cent power consumption by encouraging households to set up solar panels on rooftops, he added.

Despite 17,000 Mw of installed capacity in the state, power plants are generating only 11,000 Mw due to shortage of coal and gas, he said, adding, SECM had initiated steps to encourage renewable energy. The state government is also targeting to generate 1,000 Mw by wind energy.

MV Seshagiri Babu, CMD, Eastern Power Distribution Corporation, said the discom had decided to set up a separate energy conservation cell to reduce power wastage in the five coastal districts.