Mega solar power plant to be set up for free electricity in Andhra: Balineni Srinivasa Reddy

Andhra Pradesh state power minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy said the 10,000-megawatt solar power project was designed in line with Chief Minister YS Jagan's commitment to provide free electricity for the next 30 years. He said the project has completed a judicial preview and is in the tender process stage. Sai Prasad, Chairman, Green Energy Corporation and Srikanth Nagulapalli, Secretary, Energy briefed the Minister on the progress of the mega solar project. The minister expressed satisfaction over this, A. Chandrasekhar Reddy, CEO, Energy Conservation Company, in a statement on Sunday.

According to the Department of Energy, the subsidy on agricultural electricity stood at Rs 3,156 crore in 2015-16 and has reached Rs 8,354 crore by 2020-21, At present, DISCOMs pay Rs 4.68 per unit for electricity, while solar power costs between Rs 2.43 and Rs 3.02 per unit.

The APGECL officials estimate that setting up a mega solar power project in the state could save the state over Rs 48,800 crore over the next 30 years. Srikanth Nagulapalli said the government intends to set up solar power project units in all districts. It has been revealed that suitable places are being explored for setting up solar power units based on technical standards.