Investments worth Rs 2500 crore are expected to flow to Odisha in the renewable energy sector during the 12th Plan Period (2012-17). The state has targeted capacity augmentation of 350 MW from solar, wind and bio-mass sources during this period.
“By 2017, we expect to have new capacities in solar energy (150 MW), wind energy (100 MW) and bio-mass generation (100 MW). The state regulator has fixed Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) according to which state utilities have to buy or generate at least five per cent green power”, said D N Gupta, secretary (science & technology).
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has set an ambitious capacity addition target of 29,800 MW from renewable energy sources in the 12th Plan period. The capacity addition envisages 15,000 MW of wind power, , 10000 MW of solar power, 2100 MW from small hydro power projects and 2700 MW from bio-mass sources.
Renewable energy potential in the state has been assessed at 16230 MW by Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA).
Of this, solar power has the maximum potential at 14000 MW followed by wind power (1700 MW), biomass (350 MW), small hydro (160 MW) and municipal waste (20 MW).
As against the renewable energy potential, three small hydro power projects with 57 MW capacity, nine solar photo voltaic (PV) project with projected generation of 13 MW capacity and one biomass power project of 20 MW have been commissioned in the state.
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In addition, bulk power purchaser Grid Corporation of Odisha (Gridco) has signed power purchase agreements with eight developers of biomass projects with a combined capacity of 98 MW and six small hydro-electric projects with total generation of 67 MW.
Recently, Kolkata-based Alex Astral Power Private Ltd bagged the contract for setting up of a 25 MW solar power plant in the state. The project cost is estimated at Rs 300 crore and it is likely to come up in Bolangir district to tap the high amount of solar radiation the area gets.