Pavagada Solar Park

Pavagada Solar Park
Official name Shakti Sthala[1]
Country India
Location Pavagada taluk, Tumkur district, Karnataka
Coordinates 14°06′N 77°17′E / 14.1°N 77.28°E / 14.1; 77.28Coordinates: 14°06′N 77°17′E / 14.1°N 77.28°E / 14.1; 77.28
Status Operational
Construction began October 2016
Commission date March 2018
Construction cost ₹14,425 crore[2]
Owner(s) Karnataka Solar Power Development Corporation Ltd. (KSPDCL)
Solar field
Type Flat-panel PV
Site area 13,000 acres (53 km2)
Site resource 5.5-6.0 kWh/m2 per day[3]
Power generation
Units operational 600 MW[4]
Units under const. 1,400 MW[5]
Website
http://kspdcl.in/

Pavagada Solar Park is a solar park spread over a total area of 13,000 acres (53 km2) in Pavagada taluk, Tumkur district, Karnataka. 600 MW of power was commissioned by 31 January 2018.[6][7] and a further 1,400 MW are planned.[8] The total investment required to build 2,000 MW of capacity was estimated at ₹14,800 crore (US$2.1 billion).[9] By the end of 2018, the park is planned to have a total capacity of 2,000 MW and will be the world's biggest solar farm.[10]

History

Background

Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL) and the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) established a joint venture company, the Karnataka Solar Power Development Corporation Ltd (KSPDCL), in March 2015 to implement solar power projects in Karnataka.[11][12] The Chairman of the State High Level Clearance Committee (SLHCC) approved the KSPDCL's proposal to construct a solar power park in Pavagada taluk on 29 October 2015.[9] The project is spread over a total area of 13,000 acres (53 km2) which includes the 5 villages of Balasamudra, Tirumani, Kyataganacharlu, Vallur and Rayacharlu.[9]

Pavagada was chosen as the site for the project due to several reasons. Apart from high solar radiation and availability of land, the region receives very little rainfall. Pavagada taluk is located in a semi-arid tract, atop an elevated plateau surrounded by rocky hills. The region has been declared drought hit by the Karnataka Government 54 times in the past 6 decades. The region is also scarcely populated and most of its residents are poor farmers. Many of the region's residents have migrated to Bangalore, located about 180 km away, for economic reasons.[11]

G.V. Balram, the managing director of KREDL, was born and raised in a village in Pavaguda taluk. He understood that farmers in the region were reluctant to sell their land due to emotional reasons. In order to aid in the development of the region and reduce economic migration, Balram offered farmers the option to lease the land required for the project rather than purchase it outright.[13] Landowners receive an annual payment of ₹21,000 (US$290) per acre under the terms of the lease which is valid for 25–35 years. For the entire land required for the park, the total compensation for the entire project amounts to ₹23-25 crore per year. The annual payment amount will increase by 5% every 2 years.[12]

Auctions

The KSPDCL utilized the "plug and play" model to implement the project. Under this model, the company acquires blocks of land, obtains all required government approvals for solar power generation, and then awards contracts to solar power developers (SPDs) through auctions.[11] In April 2016, NTPC Limited, on behalf of KSPDCL, awarded contracts to 6 firms for the commissioning of a total of 500 MW of power at the Pavaguda Solar Park. Parampujya Solar Energy Pvt Ltd., Fortum Finnsurya Energy Pvt Ltd., ACME Solar Holdings Pvt Ltd, and Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd were awarded 100 MW each, while Yarrow Infrastructure and Renew Power received 50 MW each.[14][15] Yarrow Infrastructure quoted the lowest tariff of ₹4.78 (6.7¢ US) per unit, Renew Power quoted the highest (₹4.80), while the other 4 firms quoted a tariff of ₹4.79 per unit.[16]

Work on the solar park began in October 2016.[12]

In March 2017, the NTPC invited bids for 750 MW, split into six blocks of 125 MW each, of solar power capacity at Pavagada.[17]

In May 2018, SB Energy has secured 200 megawatts of capacity at Rs 2.82/kWh, or 4.16¢/kWh offered by SECI.[18]

Commissioning

On 14 December 2017, Fortum announced that it had connected a 100MW solar plant at Pavagada to the grid.[19] Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd commissioned 100 MW at the park by 19 December,[20] and an additional 50 MW by 2 January 2018.[21] Pavagada Solar Park had a total commissioned capacity of 600 MW by 1 March 2018.

Wind energy

In March 2017, Karnataka Energy Minister DK Shivakumar told the Bangalore Mirror that the government was looking to generate wind energy by setting up windmills in Pavagada. Preliminary estimates from the KREDL indicate a potential wind power generation of 250-300 MW.[22]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Poovanna, Sharan (1 March 2018). "World's largest solar park Shakti Sthala launched in Karnataka".
  2. ↑ "1st phase of Pavagada solar park to be ready by Dec". 30 September 2017 – via www.thehindu.com.
  3. ↑ "India Solar Resource - Global Horizontal Irradiance - Annual Average, by NREL, National Renewable Energy Laboratory".
  4. ↑ Reporter, Staff (2 March 2018). "Pavagada solar park inaugurated". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  5. ↑ Desk, India.com News (1 March 2018). "World's Largest Solar Park With 2000 MW Capacity Inaugurated in Karnataka's Pavagada".
  6. ↑ "600 MW of Solar Projects Synchronized to the Grid at Karnataka's Pavagada Park". Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  7. ↑ "1st phase of Pavagada solar park to be ready by Dec". The Hindu. Nagesh Prabhu. 30 September 2017. ISSN 0971-751X – via www.thehindu.com.
  8. ↑ Kumar, B.S. Satish. "State to get 500 MW from Pavagada solar park next year". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 "GoK order dated 13-06-2016 allocating 200MW solar generation plant with 15 minutes battery storage by Solar Energy Corporation Of India Limited in Pavagada Solar park" (PDF). KSPDCL. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  10. ↑ Bengali, Shashank. "The biggest solar parks in the world are now being built in India". latimes.com.
  11. 1 2 3 Poovanna, Sharan (6 March 2017). "How the world's largest solar park is shaping up in Karnataka". Mint. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  12. 1 2 3 "Solar power dawns on Pavagada villages". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  13. ↑ Jain, Amit (22 December 2015). "Solar energy to bring jobs and prosperity back to parched villages". World Bank. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  14. ↑ "Allocation of 500MW NTPC JNNSM Scheme (Open Category) power to ESCOMs of Karnataka proposed in 2000MW Pavagada Solar Park Area" (PDF). KSPDCL. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  15. ↑ "Fortum wins 100 MW project in Pavagada solar park". India Today. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
  16. ↑ Bureau, Our (13 April 2016). "Solar power producers bid below ₹5 a unit for Karnataka park". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  17. ↑ "India's NTPC invites bids for 750MW of solar in Karnataka". PV-Tech. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  18. ↑ "SB Energy Scores 200 Megawatts Of Solar In India At 4.16¢/kWh". Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  19. ↑ "Fortum Commissions 100 MW of Solar Project in Pavagada Solar Park - Mercom India". Mercom India. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  20. ↑ "TPREL Commissions 100 MW Solar Project at Pavagada Solar Park - Mercom India". Mercom India. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  21. ↑ "TPREL Commissions 50 MW DCR Solar Project in Pavagada Solar Park - Mercom India". Mercom India. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  22. ↑ "For clean energy, Karnataka, AP are in their elements - Bangalore Mirror -". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
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