NTPC’s 10 MW solar power plant in Odisha starts operation

State-owned NTPC says its 10 MW solar power plant in Odisha had started selling electricity.

The 10 MW solar plant at NTPC, Talcher in Odisha was synchronised and declared commercially operational by Dr Arup Roy Choudhury, NTPC's chairman and managing director in New Delhi on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Roy Choudhury congratulated NTPC- Kaniha employees and lauded their efforts, hard work and team spirit . The 10 MW Solar PV plant spread across 45.2 acres of land is another step in its commitment towards a broad base generation mix by evaluating conventional and alternate sources of energy.

NTPC has already signed a power purchase agreement with Damodar Valley Corpration for the 10 MW solar plant out of which 8 MW will be generated near the permanent township of the plant while the remaining 2 MW will be generated near Pathermunda village adjacent to NTPC plant.

The solar photo-voltaic plant is spread across 45.2 acres, at an estimated project cost of over Rs69 crore.

The company had commissioned four solar projects -- Andaman Solar (5 MW), Dadri Solar (5 MW), Ramagundam Solar(10 MW) and the presently commissioned Talcher Kaniha (10 MW).

The installed capacity of the NTPC has risen to 42,974 MW which included 17 coal based, 7 gas based and 4 renewable plants.

NTPC has also formulated its business plan forbcapacity addition of about 1,000 MW through renewable resources by 2017. Apart from commissioning the 10 MW Solar PV projects NTC has another 100 MW Solar PV and 8 MW Small Hydro Projects under implementation.

These include

• 10 MW Solar PV based project at NTPC-Unchahar in Uttar Pradesh.
• 5 MW Solar PV based project at NTPC-Faridabad in Haryana.
• 15 MW Solar PV based project at NTPC-Singrauli in Uttar Pradesh.
• 50 MW Solar PV based project at Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh.

NTPC says more solar projects at various NTPC stations are also being explored for feasibility.

In addition it generates 80 MW of wind power - 40 MW Wind energy projectss in Karnataka and Maharashtra and is conducting feasibility studies for another two in Karnataka and Kerala.