1900 apply for putting up solar plants on farms
JAIPUR: The state government has received around 1900 applications from farmers who want to put up solar plants in their barren farmlands under the Kusum scheme, a senior official said.
The scheme, known as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM Kusum), aims to develop decentralised solar energy and other renewable generation plants of capacity 500 KV up to 2 MW, which will be connected directly to existing 33 KV sub-stations; this will save high cost of subtransmission lines and reduce transmission and distribution losses.
Farmers, cooperatives, panchayats, farmer producer organisations and water user associations can apply to put up the plants under the scheme.
“Most applications are from farmers who want to give land on lease as they don’t have the money to invest in setting up the plants,” said Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited managing director Anil Gupta.
He said the list of applicants will be put on the website, so developers can come forward to have tie-ups with those who want to give land on lease.
Under the scheme, barren and uncultivable land of farmers, which is within a five-km radius of sub-stations, can be used to set up solar or other renewable energy-based power plants; this will give the farmers an opportunity to increase their income. The applicants will have to deposit a fee of Rs 5000 per megawatt.
Gupta said the renewable power generated will be purchased by the discoms for a period of 25 years. “The rate will be decided by the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission,” he said. The draft rate they have suggested is Rs 3.14 per unit but it has not been finalised yet.
Gupta said if the number of capacity offered by the applicants is more than the notified capacity, then reverse bidding will be done. He said in areas where the solar radiation is maximum, such as Jaisalmer and Barmer, 16-17 lakh units per MW can be generated each year.
“So a farmer who generated 2 MW could earn up to Rs 1 crore per year theoretically but practically, his return will depend on how he manages his investment, paying back any loans, interest on loans, overhead and maintenance costs, etc,” said Gupta.
In case, the aggregate capacity offered by applicants is more than the notified capacity, bidding route will be followed to select the power generator. Selection of bidders will be based on the lowest tariff offered. The scheme will be rolled out in three years and for the first year, the target is to put up plants totalling 600 MW.