India’s biggest floating solar power plant will be set up in Uttar Pradesh as the government has decided to opt for green energy, for which it also formulated Electric Vehicle Policy inviting entrepreneurs to set up units in the state.
The decision was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here on Tuesday.
“Country’s biggest floating solar power plant of 150 megawatt will come up at the Rihand Dam, which will be set up by two private players. It will be UP’s first and country’s biggest floating solar power plant,” government spokesman and Power Minister Shrikant Sharma told reporters here.
The government has signed MoUs with Renew Solar (Gurugram) for setting up of a 100 megawatt plant while Sapurjee Palonjee Infrastructure (Mumbai) will construct another 50 megawatt plant. The agreement was reached after competitive bidding. “The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has signed an agreement with these two companies to purchase the generated power at a rate of Rs 3.23 per unit for the next 25 years,” he said, adding that this project would invite an investment of Rs 750 crore.
The minister said that in this total deal, the UP government would not spend a single penny from its exchequer and would get cheap green energy too. “The biggest plus of this project is that there will be no requirement of land as it will be installed on Rihand dam,” Sharma said.
Meanwhile, the government has brought a new Electric Vehicle Policy with an estimated investment of over Rs 40,000 crore in the twin sectors of manufacturing of electric vehicles and setting up of charging stations.
The government spokesman said that incentive would be given to the entrepreneurs who wish to set up EV units. It will be 25 per cent on land purchase. They will also be entitled for other concessions as announced under the Industrial Policy of the Uttar Pradesh government.
He said the government was expecting an investment of Rs 40,000 crore.
“This sector has high potential for which a few states like Maharashtra and Telengana have formulated EV Policy,” the spokesman said, adding that UP’s public transport system would go for a big overhaul and 70 per cent of vehicles would be green vehicles. He said the government was expecting investments in manufacturing of vehicle units and setting up of charging stations.
“Under the policy, the government has set up a target to construct 20 lakh charging stations in the state. The government will give 25 per cent reimbursement on minimum investment of Rs 6 lakh each to the investors to set up power charging stations,” he said.
Sharma said the government would also give subsidy on mega anchor unit while Rs 50 lakh would be reimbursed on capital investment for technology transfer.
