SJVN Green Energy Limited to develop solar projects of more than 1.3 GW in Maharashtra, under Mukhya Mantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana 2.0 – EQ
In Short : SJVN Green Energy Limited is set to develop solar projects with a cumulative capacity of more than 1.3 GW in Maharashtra under the Mukhya Mantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana 2.0. This initiative aligns with the state’s efforts to promote solar energy in the agricultural sector, fostering sustainable practices and providing clean energy for rural development.
In Detail : Solar projects to be developed in Nashik, Solapur, Ahmednagar and Pune, with total investment of more than Rs. 7,400 crores
SJVN Limited, a Mini Ratna, Category-I and Schedule ‘A’ Central public sector enterprise under the administrative control of Ministry of Power, Government of India, has received Letters of Award for development of Solar Power Projects of capacity 1,352 MW in Maharashtra. The projects will be developed through SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of SJVN, in four districts of the state, namely, Nashik, Solapur, Ahmednagar and Pune. Chairperson & Managing Director, SJVN, Smt. Geeta Kapur has informed that these solar projects will be developed under Mukhya Mantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana 2.0, of the Government of Maharashtra.
The “Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana” was introduced in June 2017, wherein decentralized solar projects of capacity 2 MW to 10 MW will be installed within 5 kM radius of agriculture-dominated sub-stations. The scheme was later reframed as Mukhymantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana 2.0 (MSKVY 2.0), with the target of 30% feeder solarization by 2025 through the implementation of 7,000 MW decentralized solar projects in fast-track mode, thus giving day-time electricity supply to farmers.
SJVN received the Letters of Award in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis; Director (Finance), SJVN, Shri Akhileshwar Singh; and CEO, SGEL Shri Ajay Singh at an event held in Mumbai on 7th March, 2024. Officials of the state government, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. and SGEL were also present.
Total investment for the development of solar power projects of 1,352 MW capacity will be about Rs. 7,436 crores. This will be the first contribution of SGEL towards the PM-KUSUM Scheme. These projects will be eligible for Central Financial Assistance, up to a maximum of 30% of the project cost.
The projects have been bagged by SGEL through a competitive bidding process in a tender floated by MSEB Solar Agro Power Limited, Maharashtra. The total capacity of the tender was 7000 MW and SGEL participated for 1,500 MW – 500 MW in Round One and 1,000 MW in Round Two. The aforesaid scheme has been launched for implementation of largest Feeder-Level Solarisation Scheme in India under component C of PM-KUSUM Scheme.
Looking ahead, SJVN aims to grow by setting ambitious targets to achieve the shared vision of 25,000 MW installed capacity by the year 2030 and 50,000 MW installed capacity by the year 2040. This shared vision has been formulated in line with the Government of India’s commitment of having 50% of total power capacity from non-fossil-fuel-based energy sources by the year 2030.
