Maharashtra Government Plotting New Solar Projects Policy

The Maharashtra government is contemplating to prepare a policy wherein vacant plots and agriculture land will be taken on lease to set up solar projects

The Maharashtra government is contemplating to prepare a policy wherein vacant plots and agriculture land will be taken on lease to set up solar energy projects. 

An Energy Department official said that many people have evinced interest in leasing out their land for a period of 30 years to set up solar projects. 

The land can be leased on rent at 8 percent as per the ready reckoner rates, he said. The state’s capacity for solar power generation is 1,500 MW, of which the current production is about 700-800 MW, the official added. 

The state has set a target of generating 14,400 MW power through non-conventional means. For this, apart from the vacant lands, water bodies will be used to set up floating solar panels through private partnership.

Recently, the Rajasthan Electronics & Instruments Limited (REIL) issued a tender, inviting bids from interested parties for the installation of solar PV power plants with capacities ranging from 250 kW to 2 MW or more at various locations/substations of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) in the state of Maharashtra.

The last date for bid submission is August 12, 2019, and the technical bids will be opened on the following date i.e. August 13, 2019. The estimated cost of the projects envisioned under the tender is Rs 15 crore, and all bidders will have to submit an Earnest Money Deposit of Rs 15 lakh along with their bids.

Earlier, Central Electronics Limited (CEL) had issued a tender for the development of 50 MW grid-tied solar PV plants ranging from 500 kW to 10 MW at various locations in Maharashtra. The scope of work for the selected bidders will include the design, engineering, supply, construction, erection, testing, installation and commissioning of the solar power plants. 

In June, we reported that Maharashtra was all set to get floating solar power generation plants in four dams, state Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan told the Legislative Council. In a written reply to a question, Mahajan stated the backwater of Wardha, Bebala, Khadakpurna and Pentakli dams has been selected for setting up the floating solar panels as per the Swiss Challenge method. He said the estimated investment per megawatt is Rs 4.45 crore, with a total installed capacity of 500 MW.