SJVN to collaborate with Assam Govt for renewable energy projects

The Assamese government looks bullish on renewable energy as the state and the entire North East region, always blessed with high potential, finally act on it. In the latest development, Director Finance of Shimla based state owned Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN), Akhileshwar Singh met with the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati and discussed ways to develop renewable energy in the state.

The state owned SJVN, which has been paying attention to East India will now partner with Assam for the development of hydro power and other renewable energy projects. As per the reports, the two discussed the possibilities for solar power, battery storage and hydrogen plants in the state. The Chief Minister showed interest of his government in partnering SJVN in a hydropower project that the company is about to build in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Chief Minister also showed interest in a joint venture with SJVN to develop hydro power and other renewable energy projects in Assam. The SJVN official also held discussions with Bimal Bora, the Power Minister of the state, Bhibhu Bhuyan, Managing Director of Assam Power Generation Corporation and Kishore Upadhyay, Chairman, Assam Small Industry Development Corporation.

Assam has strong potential for the development of both ground-mounted and floating solar power given the large swatches of land and water bodies in the state. The government wants SJVN to explore innovative ways to develop 5,000 MW of power in different phases.

Arunachal Pradesh Hydropower Project

In December 2021, SJVN announced that it will invest Rs 60,000 crore to develop more than 5000 MW of hydropower in Arunachal Pradesh. Company CMD, Nand Lal Sharma, said that the Integrated River Basin Development Approach is accepted as the development model where one single company gets to develop hydropower in one single basin that helps in optimum utilization of resources.

Assam Renewable Potential

According to Minister for New and Renewable Energy, RK Singh, Assam has a vast potential of 14,487 MW. Solar power alone has the largest share with 13,760 MW and there is some potential also for the wind, biomass and hydropower.