NHPC Plans to Develop 600-MW Ultra Mega Solar Park in Uttar Pradesh

State-run hydropower major, NHPC, is planning to develop a solar park of around 600 Megawatt (MW) capacity in Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh, it said in a virtual event on Wednesday.

The proposed site is an island with Ghaghra river flowing from both its sides.

“NHPC is planning to develop a solar park of 600-MW capacity in Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh. We are actively examining cooperation with the UP government as well as UPTCL to make this solar park a reality,” said A K Singh, Chief managing director, NHPC in a joint stakeholder consultation organised with the industry body National Solar Energy Federation of India.

The time required for carrying out the survey and investigation would be two months and the land will be taken on a long-term lease basis. The nearest 400 kV substations are at Kasara in Mau and Rasra in Balia, about 45 kilometre from the site, according to B P Rao, general manager, NHPC.

The company said the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2022 or beginning of 2023 and it would be developed in a joint venture with the UP government or special purpose vehicle mode. However, a final decision would be taken after assessing the viability of the project.

The grid connectivity and power evacuation would be finalised by Uttar Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation after carrying out the necessary studies, said the hydropower giant.

NHPC is planning to conduct a more detailed survey of the topography and the soil conditions and appraise the developers in the coming months.

The hydropower generator in May decided to foray into the solar power business and diversify its portfolio by developing solar projects as intermediary procurer through developers.

NHPC presently has an installation base of 7,071.2 MW from 24 power stations on ownership basis including projects taken up in joint venture.