Mahagenco offers to install solar panels for green Metro
Nagpur: Mahametro’s endeavour to become ‘Green Metro’ in the country has received a boost with state-run power generation company Mahagenco (Maharashtra State Power Generation Corporation Ltd) offering to install solar panels for Mahametro in its Nagpur project. Mahametro plans to meet 65% power demand through solar panels and the total installed capacity required is 14 MW. It is the only Metro agency to go for solar power in a major way right from the outset.
The installed capacity required by Mahametro is less than 14 MW. During the day it will generate more than its need and in evening hours it will consume 100% MSEDCL (Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd) power. The solar panels will be installed atop Metro stations, on viaduct and boundary walls of the at grade (ground level) section.
The Mahagenco already operates power plants having total generation of 180 MW. It has set a target of increasing the capacity up to 2,500 MW in next five years and hence is exploring every option.
A meeting of officials of the two agencies was held in Mumbai last week. Mahagenco asked Mahametro to make it the project implementation agency (PIA) for solarization. In the meantime, Genco’s consultant has studied the Metro agency’s solar tender. “We are waiting for a letter from Mahametro making us the PIA. We will float the tender on behalf of Mahametro immediately. We are aware that the agency wants solar power in next two to three months,” a source in Genco said.
Mahagenco wants to go in for maximum possible solar generation on Nagpur Metro infrastructure. If panels exceeding 14 MW could be installed on it, then the excess generation will be sold to the MSEDCL.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) is yet to decide on Mahametro’s petition for setting up 14 MW solar generation capacity. Under MSEDCL’s solar rooftop policy, any consumer desirous of using solar generation as well as MSEDCL supply cannot install solar panels having capacity more than 1 MW. Many private players along with Mahametro want this cap to be removed. Mahametro had filed the petition in the MERC for the same. MSEDCL had opposed the plea.
Mahametro managing director Brijesh Dixit says with Mahagenco offering to set up the panels, MSEDCL’s policy limiting solar generation to 1 MW will no longer be a hindrance.
Nagpur Metro is the first one to go for solar power right from the beginning. Solar is not just green energy but it is cheaper than MSEDCL’s power and therefore makes sense.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes
