Anantapur: The world’s biggest solar power generation unit is gearing up for inauguration in the Rayalaseema region.
The NP Kunta Ultra Mega Solar Park is being established in around 7,000 acres in Anantapur and Kadapa districts.
The solar park has a capacity to generate 1,500 MW power at a single location. The NTPC has established 1,000 MW capacity and private companies will set up solar units with 500 MW capacity.
At present, California’s Mojave Desert is the top producer of solar energy with 1,000 MW capacity. The NP Kunta Park will soon surpass the Mojave Desert plant.
Already 250 MW capacity power units have been commissioned at the NP Kunta Park located in NP Kunta mandal in Kadiri revenue division in Anantpur district on trial basis.
Sources said the state government was planning to get the biggest solar park inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon. The authorities are making arrangements for the inauguration of NP Kunta Solar Park. Two helipads were also set up on the unit’s premises.
Anantapur is set to be a premier renewable energy producer by 2020 given the ongoing and proposed projects in the region.
In addition, the country's first Wind Solar Hybrid Power Project, an integrated project of both solar and wind energy, is taking shape in Anantapur district.
The state government has recently released a draft of its Wind Solar Hybrid Power Policy. The state government has also signed a MoU with Suzlon Energy for wind energy projects with a target to generate 3,000 MW in the next five years at 20 sites. Construction has already begun at several sites. About '24,000 crore investment is expected in these units.
The NTPC aims to build a generation capacity of 128 GW by 2032 with more emphasis on renewable energy including 100 GW of solar energy by 2022.
Even though Gujarat and Rajasthan were ahead in solar energy projects, viable climatic conditions and availability of land drew investors to establish energy units in the Rayalaseema region, I&PR minister Kalava Srinivasulu observed, and added that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was particular about encouraging private companies to establish large scale units in Anantapur, Kurnool and Kadapa districts.
Private generating companies are giving top priority to tapping solar and wind energy in Anantapur, Kurnool and Kadapa areas. Axis Energy Group is aiming at tapping both solar and wind energy.
They plan to install 4,000 MW capacity wind power projects and 2,500 MW solar power projects in the Rayalaseema region, most of it in Anantapur district. The company plans to achieve these targets by 2020.
Suzlon Energy’s proposed unit to manufacture wind turbines at Anantapur is under construction and production will begin shortly.
The leading renewable energy group having operations in around 19 countries is investing around Rs 500 crore in its Anantapur plant, company sources said.
