30 promoters get government’s approval to conduct survey for180 MW solar power project

Nepal Electricity Authority is in the process of signing PPA with promoters to commission solar project with total capacity of producing 61 MW solar powers.

Nepal government has recently given approval to as many as 30 promoters to conduct survey for the commissioning of 180 MW solar power project in different part of the country.

Nepal government in recent years has been emphasizing on development and expansion of renewable energy projects in the country.

According to HT Nepal Electricity Authority is in the process of signing PPA with promoters to commission solar project with total capacity of producing 61 MW solar powers.

The Ministry of Energy has given permission for installation of two solar systems with capacity of 8 MW each at Charghare and 3.5 MW solar system in Bidur, Nuwakot, beside  50 MW Manungadanda Solar Plant in Tanahun.

The ministry has also given permission to Api Power Company to conduct survey for installation solar plants with combined capacity of 20 MW at six different places of the country.

Information Officer at the department, Senior Divisional Engineer Baburaj Adhikari, said permission for survey had been given for production of four megawatts power in Lahan, four megawatts in Hetauda, eight megawatts in Duhabi and three megawatts in Lamahi.

The Department of Electricity Development under the Ministry of Energy has already given permission to conduct survey for 30 solar power projects with combined capacity of 180 megawatts.

NEA spokesperson Prabal Adhikari said preparations were being made to sign PPA with solar power developers for 61 megawatts power in the fiscal 2017/18. NEA is going to sign PPA with 21 solar power developers within a few days.

NEA is preparing to generate solar energy for ending the load-shedding in line with the Energy Crisis Abatement Action Plan. It is reaching PPA with the solar power developer companies based on the basic rate that has been set for purchasing solar power.

Special emphasis has been given to develop solar energy to meet the government’s ambitious goal of producing 17,000 megawatts electricity within 17 years as part of ‘Bright Nepal Campaign’.