Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are among the top states in solar power generation in the country.
With industry-friendly policies offering several incentives, the Telugu states are racing ahead to achieve their solar power targets.
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh stand sixth and seventh respectively in cumulative solar capacity in the country.
The Centre had informed the Parliament in August last year that the cumulative solar capacity of Telangana is 4,695 MW while that of Andhra Pradesh is 4,552 MW.
However, the Telangana government had claimed in May last year that from a mere 74 MW of solar power at the time of state’s formation in 2014, Telangana now generates 5,865 MW of solar power
During 2022-23, Andhra Pradesh was at fifth place in power generation. The state generated 8,140 million units.
Officials say Andhra Pradesh has almost achieved the target of generating 5,000 MW solar power by 2023 and a series of new projects approved recently will double the capacity.
Andhra Pradesh, which is home to four solar parks announced by the government of India, has solar energy potential of 38.4 GW. The state is also home to world’s largest integrated renewable energy storage project
The new year began on a promising note for Andhra Pradesh with the State Investment Promotion Board clearing the proposal of JSW Neo Energy Ltd to establish four solar power projects across the state to produce 3350 MW of power with an investment of Rs 12,065 crore.
JSW will establish 400 MW, 1050 MW, 1050 and 850 MW solar power units in YSR district, Sri Satya Sai district, in Anantapur district respectively.
Aqua Green Engineering Management Pvt Ltd will also establish a 1000 MW solar power unit in Sri Satya Sai district with an investment of Rs 4,000 crore.
In November 2023, foundation stone was laid for two solar power projects of 850 MW.
The solar power projects are coming up with an investment of Rs 3,400 crores at the solar parks at Kadapa and Anantapur.
The state government also signed an MoU with the HPCL for setting up solar energy plant of 500 MW.
The government has also signed an agreement with SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India) for producing 17,000 million units of solar power in the state and supplying 13,000 million units to the agricultural sector at the rate of Rs 2.49 per unit as against the usual average unit cost of Rs 5.30. Officials said this would reduce the burden of the state exchequer on free power supply to farmers.
According to minister for energy Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy, SECI would make available 3,000 from September 2024 in the first tranche and 3,000 MW and 1,000 MW in the second and third tranches from September 2025 and September 2026 respectively.
The solar power policy announced in 2019 offered several incentives to the private sector to meet the target. Under the policy, Discoms will procure 2,000 MW in five years.
The solar power industry players had hailed it as an investment-friendly policy. Under the policy, companies investing in solar power projects in the state would be entitled to state government incentives for 10 years.
According to the New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP) Vice-Chairman and Managing Director S. Ramana Reddy, the state is on path to become a pioneer in the field of renewable energy in the country.
Earlier in August, 2023, foundation stone was laid for three renewable energy projects for producing 5,314 MW of power in Nandyal district.
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy exuded confidence that the projects will help Andhra Pradesh become number one in green energy.
These include 2,300 MW solar power project to be set up by Greenko and 1000 MW solar power project to be set up by Ecoren Energy. These companies will invest Rs. 10,350 crore and Rs. 4,500 crores respectively.
In May 2022, it was announced that the world’s largest integrated renewable energy storage project (IRESP) is coming up in Kurnool district with an investment of over $3 billion.
Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy performed the first concrete pour ceremony of the project being implemented by Greenko Group.
The company said this 5,230 MW IRESP will play a pivotal role in India attaining energy security and enabling global energy transition.
According to Greenko, this is a first of its kind single location energy storage project with wind and solar capacities. The project is being implemented with an investment of over $3 billion comprising pumped storage (10,800 MWh of daily storage), solar (3000 MW) and wind (550 MW).
The project will help avoid 15 million tonnes of CO2 annually which is equivalent to emissions from three million cars.
In 2021 Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) commissioned what was…
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