AP to produce 10% of national target of 1 lakh MW power by 2020

• State govt finalised an action plan to develop 10,000 MW solar power plants: Energy secretary Ajay Jain
• Around 3,000 MW wind energy projects will come up in AP over the next 5 years

Anantapur: The State government has targeted to achieve a total capacity of 4,000 MW of solar power by 2020 and is expected to produce something like 10,000 MW of wind and solar power together. 

While the Centre had fixed a target of 1 lakh MW production of non-conventional energy at the national-level, AP State alone is likely to produce 10,000 MW. The Solar Energy Corporation of India is going to issue tenders for setting up another 750 MW of solar power park in the State. 

Kurnool and Anantapur districts together are producing 4000 MW of green power. New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of AP (NREDCAP) which is promoting green energy on a massive scale was instrumental in producing 1,460 MW of wind power and 457.9 MW of solar power, according to NREDCAP district manager Kodandaram. 

The State government is taking steps to tap renewable sources of energy. In line with the Central government’s plan to develop solar power capacity of 1 lakh MW by 2020, the State government finalised an action plan to develop solar power plants with an installed capacity of 10,000 MW, according to Energy secretary Ajay Jain. 

Of the targeted production, Anantapur district alone is producing 5000 MW. As part of the solar mission, the biggest solar park in Asia, with a capacity of 3,500 MW (N P Kunta 1,000 MW, Orvakallu 1,000 MW, Talaricheruvu 500 MW and Galiveedu 1,000 MW) is being developed in Anantapur district in association with NTPC and AP Solar Power Corporation. 

The government also decided to introduce latest technologies and best practices adopted in the West to harness adequate power from energy sources at an affordable price to the domestic consumers. 

The Centre’s decision to raise Rs 6,600 crore fund with seed capital from public sector utilities to support renewable energy sources is a good indication for the promotion of solar and wind power. 

Meanwhile, AP government signed an MoU with Suzlon Energy Group for the wind energy projects. Around 3,000 MW wind energy projects will come up across Andhra Pradesh over the next five years at 20 odd sites and mostly in Anantapur district which will garner around Rs 24,000 crore investments. Construction at eight of the 20 sites had already begun.

 Suzlon Energy had established a wind turbine manufacturing plant at Kuderu in Anantapur district. 
 
 The leading renewable energy group having operations in around 19 countries had invested Rs 500 crore in Anantapur plant. Suzlon Energy would be using latest emerging technologies to tap power.