This will be the world`s biggest solar power project if the state gets the nod from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India.
The state Power minister Manish Gupta spoke about the plan at a national seminar organized by Ashden India Renewable Energy Collective - a group of Indian Ashden award winners headed by solar power expert and former adviser to the state power department, S P Gon Chaudhuri. Mr. Gupta said discussions have taken place with central government officials on the proposed project. The Centre has agreed in principle, he said.
Around 700 acres will be required for the project. The project will be either at PPSP at Baghmundi or at Thurga that is located nearby. A detailed project report is being prepared, the Power Minister said.
The PPSP of West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited has four units of 224MW hydel power each. The Minister said the proposal will have to be approved by the state finance department and in the state cabinet. The state wants grants under the national clean energy funds to execute the project.
The PPSP site has been proposed by the state government as it is a natural source of water. The plan is to pump the water through solar power. Once this happens, it will become a complete natural water pumping system using water and solar power.
It was also announced at the seminar that Ashden India will prepare a rooftop solar power policy for Kolkata. Funds worth Rs 22 lakh have been sanctioned through DFID for preparing the policy. "We are working on some mega schemes for rooftop solar schemes in the city," said the Minister. Together with the UK government, the West Bengal department of power and Kolkata Municipal Corporation are working on developing a grid-connected rooftop solar system.
In this project solar energy will be used to pump water during the day time and the water stored in the process would be used to generate electricity during the night. The proposed project is currently waiting Central Government's approval.
In Rajarhat New Town, which that has been declared as a solar city, the New Town Development Authority has already made it mandatory for all commercial and residential high-rise buildings to install rooftop solar panels to meet at least 2% of the buildings` electrical load requirement.
