Anticipating a major electricity crisis in view of the Centre’s new power policy, the state government is gearing up to generate an additional 1,008 MW of power in the next three years. The power thus generated will be mainly through renewable energy sources like solar and wind.Of this, 600 MW is expected to be produced from solar power alone, power minister Kadakampally Surendran told a press meet at the Kesari Memorial Journalists’ Trust here on Tuesday.
In addition to the 200MW solar power plant that is being readied in Kasaragod, a proposal for another 200-MW project is also on the cards there. “The KSEB has identified land and the proposal will be placed before cabinet soon,” he said.The Centre’s new policy that 85% of the power genera ted at a plant should be used in the state where the plant is situated is detrimental for a state like Kerala which does not have any major projects and is buying 65% of its requirement from outside, he added.
Of the ongoing solar project in Kasaragod, the commissioning of 50 MW will be done in December. “We will also go ahead with generating 200 MW of solar power on the land owned by KSEB across the state,” the minister said.Another 100 MW is expected to be produced from wind energy , mainly from Palakkad and Idukki districts. The KSEB has installed three micro-wind stations on the roof top of KSEB headquarters, which can generate small quantity of power. The government is reviving two hydro-power projects, Pallivasal extension and Tottiyar, stopped mid-way due to various reasons, to together generate 100 MW of power.
In addition, 14 minor projects that would generate 149 MW is also being undertaken.They include the Peruvannamuzhy, Pazhassi Sagar, Chembukadavu III and Mangulam projects.Ongoing projects like Bhootattan Kettu, Peringalkuthu, Upper Kallar, Perunthenaruvi and Kakkayam, that will together generate 59 MW, will be completed in a time-bound manner, the minister said.Anticipating a power crisis this summer due to a deficit monsoon, the board will purchase 100 MW from outside.
Source:timesofindia
