AP plans pollution-free energy solutions in Amaravati

Amaravati: The state government is formulating a plan on total energy solutions to meet the energy requirements of Amaravati capital city up to 2025 and 2050 based on world-class practices.

Taking the energy requirements of various sectors-- institutional, domestic, automotive and industrial--the government is focusing on various eco-friendly technological solutions for the greenfield capital city. The government prefers the technologies which reduce carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydro carbon significantly as it promised one of the three best world-class capital cities.

The government is considering various technologies, including waste to energy technology for green electricity, bio-CNG for automotive needs, renewable energy for household and other purposes, energy storage batteries for e-rikshaw, cars and industrial needs, LNG for automotive and domestic needs.  In a recent meeting held with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) submitted its vision on total energy solutions for Amaravati. 

Sources said the IOC, in its plan submitted to the government, proposed 37 energy stations (diesel) for capital region under three phases taking the energy requirements till 2050 into consideration. It has reportedly estimated that Rs 674 crore funds need to be invested to set up 37 energy stations.  

The APCRDA has also estimated the sector-wise demand for natural gas in Amaravati which could be 0.15 MMSCMD by 2025 and 1.94 MMSCMD by 2050. The CRDA prepared a plan mentioning available options on natural gas supply to Amaravati. It took into consideration the KG Basin network, proposed tap-off at Lanco near Chevuluru in and two other basins for gas supply. It also took Ennore LNG Terminal into consideration for LNG supply through cryogenic tanks.

The AP Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) has also envisaged a plan on city gas distribution (CGD) project with a total investment of Rs 1,721 crore. Gas will be supplied through pipelines across the Amaravati capital city. 

The APCRDA must provide land to IOC for CGD station and other infrastructure. It also planned hydrogen blended CNG stations for automotives.  
For electric power requirements, the APCRDA prepared a plan on solar power system taking the energy requirements into consideration till 2050. The power demand for Amaravati is estimated as 2,706 MW by 2050 and it also planned to produce 1,816 MW of solar power through rooftop of government and other buildings. 

“We have estimated requirement of all the government institutions, residential, commercial, industrial, district cooling system, water treatment plants, parks and other category of services to calculate the power projections for Amaravati,” said a senior official of APCRDA.

The IOC also submitted a plan to government on renewable energy production. Sources said the IOC proposed to set up a solar plant of 100 MW as part of its MoU with APCRDA. It has proposed to produce 64 MW of solar power through ground mounted solar plant and another 36 MW through roof-top solar production on government buildings.