Himachal Pradesh will become India’s first green energy state by the end of 2025 by harnessing hydro, hydrogen, and solar energy and switching to green products, said chief minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu recently.
The minister said the state government would also invest in solar plants and will install 500 MW solar projects during the year 2023-24. Out of the planned 500 MW, 200 MW would be installed by Himachal Pradesh Power Corp. Ltd (HPPCL). Land for 70 MW capacity has been identified and the rest of the sites will be finalized soon. Solar projects up to 150 MW capacity would be installed by HIMURJA through private participation. Priority would be given to natives of the state in awarding these projects. The capacity of the projects will range from 250 kW to 1 MW, he added.
The minister directed the officers to open all the solar projects up to 5 MW capacity for allotment. To ensure financial benefits for the State, he directed HIMURJA to evolve a mechanism for royalty from solar projects above 3 MW capacity. “In case of land being given to state-owned units for developing solar projects, some percentage of land equity may be charged as well,” he added.
The minister HIMURJA to ensure a 5% premium for the state in each solar power project up to 5 MW and a 10% share in solar power projects of more than 5 MW capacity. HPPCL will appoint a consultant for the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and submit the report within a month so that the work on the solar projects could be started. The Department of Energy and HPPCL will also identify sites in other states like Rajasthan where land is available at discounted rates for the installation of mega solar plants.
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