Plans to generate 10,000 MW solar power in State by 2022.

The State government has chalked out plans to add 10,000 MW solar power in the State by 2022, to help bring down tariff as well as make Andhra Pradesh a power-surplus State. The government has already taken up 4,000 MW ultra solar power projects at Kurnool, Anantapur and Kadapa.

The government has been promoting renewable energy, including solar, in a big way since 2014. The price per unit has come down to ₹2.75 due to solar power generation. The solar power tariff has come down after taking up the 750 MW solar power project in the Kadapa ultra mega solar park. The government could add 2,440 MW solar power capacities during the last four years. It started with 63.70MW in 2014-15, and added 369.90 MW in 2018-19.

The solar power capacities have been consistently added and generation is poised to reach 5,000 MW by 2019-20, officials say.

When contacted, Energy Minister Kimidi Kala Venkata Rao says the solar potential in the State is 38.5 GW as per the estimation made by the National Institute of Solar Energy.

“So, we are making efforts to tap solar power in a big way. The government has formulated solar and wind power policies to promote the renewable energy sector, taking the view that green energy is the only way forward.”

The solar policy was announced in 2015 to attract investments in the renewable energy sector. “As a result of promotional efforts, the cumulative renewable energy capacity in the State has reached 7,119 MW, which includes 2,517 MW of solar power,” he says.

“Our focus has been on clean energy and making Andhra Pradesh a renewable energy hub. We have accordingly added huge capacity in wind and solar power generation. The 2,200 MW capacity solar power projects in the solar parks are expected to be commissioned in a year,” he adds.

THE HINDU