Arunachal gets biggest ever solar power plant

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itanagar, May 10: The first ever biggest solar power plant of Arunachal Pradesh was formally inaugurated on Thursday by Chief Minister Pema Khandu in the presence of Power (Electrical) Minister Tamiyo Taga at Energy Awareness Park here.

The one-mega watt capacity plant implemented by the Arunachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency (APEDA) was commissioned on April 1 this year at an estimated cost of Rs 850 lakh received as incentive grant under the Thirteenth Finance Commission. The work on the plant began on April 19, 2016 and was completed on March 30 this year. Harayana-based M/S Dynamic Powers executed the work of the plant. APEDA director Marki Loya said the plant has been feeding the power generation into the 11 KV grid network of the State power department.

“Depending on the weather condition and solar radiation, the generation starts in the morning at 5.30 am till 6pm in the evening. It has attained a peak generation of 1.07 mw and the energy generated from the date of its commissioning is more than 1 lakh units and the deemed CO2 reduction by the plant so far is 78 tonnes,” Loya said.

He said with the commissioning of the plant, the import of energy from outside the State has reduced, thereby reducing the energy bill payable by the State.

“Being located in the load centre, it will also contribute in reduction of line losses. It will also help in meeting the solar Renewable Energy Purchase Obligation (RPO) to some extent. The plant is totally automatic and unmanned. It automatically switches on when sunshine and grid is available, and switches off when either sunshine or grid supply or both are not available,” Loya added.

Lauding the officials of APEDA, Khandu urged them to venture into more such environment-friendly projects in the State.

“Our activities should not disturb the environment and solar power plants are more environment friendly in comparison to gas-based projects,” Khandu said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been initiating several measures to replace conventional sources of energy by non-conventional sources to minimize the effect of global warming, he added.

He said works are going on to fulfill the target set by the Centre for rural electrification within this year under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY).

“As of now, ten per cent off-grid power connectivity in the villages of the State are being implemented by the APEDA and the State government is contemplating to install solar plants in various health centers and upcoming mini secretariats in the districts,” the Chief Minister said, adding that works on 250 kw solar power plant at the Assembly secretariat had been completed.