Howrah News Service -  Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World: WB to set up centre for solar energy

WB to set up centre for solar energy
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newsbyte on 06 May, 2008 02:34:34
 
By OUR CORRESPONDENT
Kolkata, May 6: For the first time in the country, an integrated solar energy
park with a 30 MW solar power plant will come up in West Bengal at an investment
of around Rs 500 crores.
Many companies including Videocon and Reliance Industries and a US firm
Astonfield have shown interest for setting up the project. West Bengal Green
Energy Development Corporation Ltd (WBGEDCL) will have a minority stake in the
project.
WBGEDCL managing director, Mr S.P. Gon Chowdhury, said, "The proposed solar
energy park will be spread over 120 acres in Purulia district. We will develop
the basic infrastructure and set up sub-stations and then we will invite bids
from private parties to build the solar power plant."
The bids will be invited in July and the selection process will be over by
September. The park along with solar power plant will be ready for power
generation by May 2009.
A senior Videocon official said, that the company was interested in taking part
in the bidding.
He said that West Bengal has a potential to add 10,000 MW through renewable
energy.
At present, the installed capacity of electric power from non-conventional
renewable energy sources in West Bengal is around 76 MW.