PATIALA: The Punjab state power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has added increased its share of renewable energy has risen to 20% of the total energy produced via Thermal and Hydel sources in the state by signing an agreement with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to buy additional 150 MW of power.
Chairman cum managing director of the corporation A.Venu Prasad said under the new arrangement the corporation would be able to buy 150 MW of wind power at a cost of Rs 2.72 per KWH, which will be available from other states producing wind power. The agreement will be valid for 25 years and available wind power projects will produce energy 90% to 120% of declared capacity utilization factor (CUF). This will help PSPCL in complying with targets of non-solar power utilization.
As per an official report, the wind power projects are expected to generate 450 MU each year and under the new agreement, the power from these projects is expected to be available to PSPCL in the beginning of FY 19-20.
The agreement was signed by Er Harjit Singh Saluja, on the behalf of PSPCL with SECI in the presence of Minister for Power and Renewable Energy Sources, Raj Kumar Singh in Delhi.
Targets set for PSPCL
In 2015 the ministry of renewable energy (MNRE) had set a target for renewable energy generation of 175 Gigawatt (GW) by 2022. CMD Venu Prasad said that despite the availability of limited renewable energy resources and the high cost of land PSPCL has made tremendous strides in the Non-conventional energy sector by fully utilizing the available resources in the state including small hydro, biomass and solar energy. Punjab has come a long way as it was awarded the ‘Best Performing State’ in RE Capacity Edition in 2015.
Venu said at present PSPCL is getting clean energy from renewable energy resources in the state and outside on long-term basis and the short term also. The Solar generation contributes approximately up to 12.5% and Non-Solar up to 5.5% to its overall power availability.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes
