Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 21: Initiating first ever step towards tapping the solar power potential in the Ladakh region at a large scale, State Cabinet today accorded sanction to the setting up of two Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects in the cold desert under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. These projects would generate 7500 Mega Watts (MW) of solar power.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Ladakh region is one of the most favourable areas in the country for harnessing solar power as annual average solar energy at Leh is 5530 Whr/m2/day while the estimated annual average for Kargil and Nubra is 5390 Whr/m2/day and 5300 Whr/m2 respectively. “The cold deserts of Leh and Kargil have amongst the best solar radiations in the country and are therefore ideally suitable for generation of solar power”, they added.
“Keeping these facts in consideration, solar power project of 2500 MW is envisaged in Kargil and 5000 MW power project in Leh”, they said, adding “the projects will be based on solar photovoltaic or solar thermal technologies as may be feasible and these projects are planned to be taken up with the involvement of public sector/private sector”.
The power generated would be sold to the distribution companies in the country, which they may use for meeting their renewable purchase obligations, sources further said, adding in order to develop these projects, a joint venture company will be formed with the participation of CPSUs from Government of India/PSUs and agencies of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources said that Memorandum of Understanding has already been signed by the Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Commissioner Secretary, Department of Science and Technology of State Government for implementing solar power projects in phases through a joint venture company. “Before signing of MoU comments of various departments including Planning and Development, Revenue, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Finance and Science and Technology were obtained”, they added.
Stating that the objective of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission is to promote India as a global leader in solar energy and the Mission provides an opportunity to the State to provide impetus in this direction, sources said that solar energy is the most secure of all sources since it is abundantly available. “Even a small fraction of the total incident solar energy, if captured effectively, can meet the entire country’s power requirement”, they added.
“Since the cost of harnessing solar power is progressively declining and cost of other sources of power is increasing, commercial exploitation of solar power is increasingly gaining momentum particularly in view of the fact that it is a clean source of energy with sufficient environment benefits”, they said, adding “harnessing of solar power has been accorded due importance in Jammu and Kashmir since it has natural advantages which makes it an ideal choice for developing it as solar power hub”.
In response to a question, sources said, the land for the installation of two Ultra Mega Solar Projects in Ladakh region would be identified by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil as all the land related issues falling within the territorial limits of LAHDCs are dealt by the Hill Councils.
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