Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar has said that the Union government has increased the target for the production of power from renewable sources from 1,800 MW to 6,000 MW by 2020 and the State government has stepped up its efforts to reach the target.
He told presspersons here on Sunday that the main focus of the State government would be to increase the production of solar power and give stress on increasing power production through wind energy.
Mr. Shivakumar said that besides establishing the world’s biggest solar park on 12,000 acres of land in the drought- prone Pavagada taluk in Tumakuru district, the State government had also decided to establish small solar parks to generate 20 MW to 50 MW of power in 100 taluks.
It would be extended to other taluks except those in the Malnad region. The National Thermal Power Corporation had established a solar power plant to produce 500 MW of power at Pavagada and the State government had entered into a power purchase agreement with the corporation for purchasing power at a cost of Rs. 3.33 per unit.
Besides this, the government was encouraging roof-top solar power production by individuals by offering attractive price packages for purchasing power.
Mr. Shivakumar said that the government had appointed a private consultant to study the efficacy of all the units of the Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS).
They had been asked to submit a recommendation on the need for maintenance and repair of the old units which had outlived their age. They had also been asked to recommend new technology to store fly ash.
The Minister said that the government had not given up its proposal for establishing a thermal power station at Honna Kiranagi village for which land had been acquired.
The government had sought coal linkage for the plant and was also mulling over the possibility of allowing a bidding for the establishment of the plant.
