NTPC exploring solar power projects in UP

Public sector power generation major NTPC Limited is exploring solar energy projects in Uttar Pradesh to boost its green energy profile and meet renewable energy targets.

Giving a major thrust for green and clean energy, the Maharatna company is targeting to achieve 10,000 MW of renewable energy by 2022.

At present, 360 mw of solar photovoltaic power plants have been proposed by NTPC spanning UP, Telangana, Odisha, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. UP comprises only 30 mw of these projects coming up in Dadri (5 mw), Unchahar (10 mw) and Singrauli (15 mw).

"We want to set up more solar projects in UP. To begin with, we are exploring the possibility of utilising the land at our existing thermal power plants in the state apart from setting up rooftop solar power plants at our stations," NTPC Regional Executive Director (North) Saptarshi Roy told Business Standard here.

He informed NTPC was holding discussions with the various state governments in this regard, including UP. For individual solar power plants, the company requires land and talks would be held with the UP government, he said.

Currently, NTPC plants supply nearly 25% or 4,344 mw (around 27.6 billion units) of the total energy consumption in UP.

With several thermal power plants coming up either as Greenfield or expansion projects, the company estimates supplying an additional 1,650 mw to the state by 2016-17.

Projects totalling 4,468 mw are currently underway in UP, which are expected to be commissioned between December 2016 and 2020. These include Meja 1,320 mw (Mar 17), Unchahar 500 mw (Dec 16), Tanda expansion 1,320 (Sep 18), Bilhaur 1,320 (2020), besides an 8 mw hydro power project.

Under its clean energy initiatives, NTPC is striving for zero water discharge at all its Northern Region stations by 2016.

The company is making efforts to utilise fly ash generated at its thermal power plants in the road projects, brick making, land filling, cement plants etc to minimize its carbon footprint.

"We are holding talks both with the state governments and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for using our fly ash in road projects. We have achieved limited success so far and are hopeful of more successes in future," Roy underlined.