Govt to fund 2-MW solar power unit in Bengal

Kolkata: The West Bengal Government on Thursday heralded a new chapter in the history of harnessing solar energy in the country and reportedly in the subcontinent by tying up finances for a 2 MW solar power project at Dishergarh in Budwan district.

Promoted by the West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation Ltd (WBGEDCL) the Rs 41.2-crore project – considered as a pilot project for harnessing solar energy on commercial scale — will receive 75 per cent loan finance from the Power Finance Corporation (PFC). Both the companies have entered into firm agreement in this regard here on Thursday.

The project is considered as the stepping-stone for the State Government’s ambitious plan to harness up to 150 MW of solar energy for the proposed solar park in Purulia district. According to available estimates, the State can harness up to 10,000 MW of solar energy.

‘Single largest plant’

While high project cost had pushed the cost of generation of the 2-MW power project at Dishergarh to as high as Rs 15 per unit, WBGEDCL claims that the incentive schemes launched by the Union Government to promote use of renewable energy may bring down the tariff to as low as Rs 3 per unit.

“It will be the single largest solar PV power plant in this part of the world,” the WBGEDCL Managing Director, Mr S.P. Gon Chaudhuri, said, adding that the world largest plant is of 26 MW and was located in South Korea.

Interestingly, Dishergarh Power Supply Company Ltd (DPSCL) — a subsidiary of Andrew Yule — has offered 8.3 acres for the project and will buy back the power produced. Apart from enjoying low power cost net of central assistance, DPSCL will also enjoy incentive on its grid consumption for using renewable energy.