Renewable energy potential in Odisha has been assessed at 11,820 MW, with solar energy having the highest potential at 10,000 MW among all green energy sources.
According to information provided by minister for science & technology Ramesh Chandra Majhi in the state assembly, though, estimates say, renewable energy sources can be tapped to produce a total of 53,820 MW, the generation of 11,820 MW out of this is feasible. The solar photo-voltaic source has the maximum potential at 8,000 MW followed by solar thermal and wind power at 2,000 MW and 910 MW respectively. Similarly it is estimated that bio-mass paddy husk and bio-mass paddy straw can be used to produce 250 MW each.
The minister said the state government has taken steps for setting up power plants based on solar, wind and bio-mass during the 12th Five Year Plan mostly through private developers.
Investments to the tune of Rs 2,500 crore are expected to flow to Odisha in the renewable energy sector during the 12th Plan Period (2012-17) as the state has targeted capacity augmentation of 350 MW from solar, wind and bio-mass sources in the period.
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 in wind power, 2,100 MW of small hydro power, 10,000 MW of solar power and 2,700 MW generation from bio-mass sources.
As against the renewable energy potential, three small hydro power projects with 57 MW capacity, nine solar photo voltaic (PV) project with 13 MW capacity and one biomass power project of 20 MW capacity have been commissioned in the state.
In addition to this, 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 a capacity totaling to 67 MW.
