Proposed 10 MW Solar Plant in Meghalaya

Solar power producer Azure Power has proposed to set up the first solar plant in the Northeast in Meghalaya, India, a 10 MW power plant with an estimated investment of Rs 150 crore.Awaiting approval from the state government, the company made a presentation to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma last Friday.

Company's chairman H S Wadhwa said the proposed plant would be the first and the only private, utility-scale facility in the region to drive development by providing solar power service to communities, governments, and commercial customers in the state.

The plant has been proposed in Built, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.Some locations have been identified in the state's Ri-Bhoi and West Garo Hills districts.

"Sustainability of a solar project depends upon at least 250 days of sunshine for which Ri Bhoi and West Garo Hills are ideal locations in the state," Rajan Bhattacharya, the local coordinator of the project, said.

The plant, upon being fully operational would employ most advanced solar photovoltaic technology while eliminating carbon pollution, Wadhwa observed, adding the project would require about 15 acres of land which the state government should provide.

Meghalaya, on an average day, requires 610 MW of power while the state's own production is just 185.2 MW.

In order to meet power demands, the state government is forced to buy power from Power Grid and other sources.

SOURCE: http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/azure-power-proposes-10-mw-solar-plant-in-meghalaya/576825.html