Stalemate over IInd phase execution

Nambulapulakunta (Anantapur): National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is making all arrangements to implement it's second phase of execution of the 750-megawatt (MW) solar power plant at Nambulapulakunta village in Kadiri mandal in the district.

In response to international bidding, Tata Power, Lanco, BHEL and Sterling Wilson had bid for 100 MW, 50 MW, 50 MW and 50 MW of power respectively. However, the real hitch between the government and the private companies was on power purchase price.

The above mentioned companies were demanding a premium price of Rs 5.65 per unit. But, the state government’s contention was that the AP government which has surplus power need not purchase power at a premium price.

Besides, the private firms which came forward to generate power were doing it with absolutely no investment on land or infrastructure etc as everything was made available by the NTPC. The companies would be producing power without any investment and infrastructure costs.

The government sees no rationale in paying premium price to the companies. In the context of a stalemate existing between the two parties concerned, the government is thinking in terms of calling for fresh tenders, according to New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation (NREDCAP) District Manager (DM) Kodandarama Murthy.

In the second phase, 6x125 MW plants would be established and NTPC is in the process of calling for bids and works would begin once the remaining land required for the project is handed over to them.

NTPC sources told ‘The Hans India’ that NTPC is into solar power in tune with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new solar policy to tap solar energy on a massive scale to meet the country's power requirements in view of the depleting coal reserves in the country.

While the central government's ambitious programme is to set up 1 lakh MW solar power energy, the Andhra Pradesh government set for itself a target of producing 10,000 MW in the 2016-17 year. The district provides congenial climate for tapping non-conventional energy.

Contrary to popular belief solar panels taps the photon energy generated out of light and not the heat of the sun. Solar energy can be produced even in cloudy climate provided there is light. Even in hill stations solar power can be produced when there is light.

NTPC is producing 110 MW in its projects in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Haryana states, all put together while in Anantapur alone it is currently producing 250 MW. NTPC was supposed to complete tendering and start power generation in 2018 itself but the stalemate between the government and private power producers is likely to further delay the project and spill over to 2019.

Government lands to an extent of 4,000 acres have been given to the NTPC while another 2,500 acres of assigned lands too had been given to the company for the solar power project. Kodandaram Murthy stated that a solar circuit is being developed with 1,000 MW power generation in Anantapur and another 1000 MW power generation in Kadapa and 500 MW power in Kurnool.

The circuit will be the largest solar power producing circuit in the state. Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation (APSPC) is the sole agency for acquiring land for the solar power projects in AP. NTPC, NREDCAP and the APSPC are working together in the establishment of the ultra-mega solar power project in the district.