NTPC, the largest power producer in India, is eyeing the Kutch region of Gujarat as the location for a planned 5,000-megawatt ultra-mega solar park, according to media sources.
The park will require an investment of at least Rs 20,000 crore ($2.7 billion).
“We have identified two to three locations in the Kutch district, and the park is likely to be developed at Rs 4 crore [$559,380] per megawatt cost,” said Gurdeep Singh, chairman and managing director for NTPC.
The company is also considering Rajasthan as a location for another solar park. NTPC is aiming to reach at least 30,000 megawatts of renewable power capacity by 2030, according to Singh. The company had an installed capacity of 55,786 megawatts as for June, according to Business Standard.
NTPC is also planning to team up with municipalities to create electricity from solid waste.
"Since last year we have been running a pilot project in Banaras in UP that converts bio-waste into electricity,” he said. “Now we are planning to do a similar project with the East Delhi Municipal Corporation to produce 20 megawatts a day and we will float the tender over the next 30 months.”
The company is in advanced talks with the Surat Municipal Corp., a local self-government, and plans to award a contract soon.
NTPC said it has plans to invite solar power developers to invest in the parks, as well as set up capacity and sell the power outside or back to them.
