Reliance Industries to set up 10 MW solar power plant in West Bengal State of India
New Delhi, Dec. 6, 2007
Source: United Press International
http://www.upi.com/International_Security/Energy/Briefing/
2007/12/06/ril_to_set_up_10_mw_solar_power_plant/3405/
India’s private Reliance Industries Ltd. said it plans to set up a 10 megawatt solar power plant in West Bengal state. The move would put the company at the heart of the renewable energy business. The company has sought the help of the West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency, an RIL official said.
“Reliance Industries had approached me in July and after a series of discussions decided to start by setting up a 10 MW solar unit in West Bengal,” said S.L. Gon Chaudhuri, director of WBREDA. Although the company did not commit any investment, it has started scouting for land in the state.
“Purulia is likely to be the place where it would set up its solar plant,” Chaudhuri said. “West Bengal has a well set regulatory frame work for renewable energy and by the time the project comes up, there will be preferential tariff in place for solar power,” he said.
Under the plan, 32 companies will produce 200 MW in green power to be pushed to the grid. WBREDA has facilitated power-purchase agreements with utilities such as West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Co., CESC Ltd. and Durgapur Projects Ltd., which would draw power from the producers, the Financial Express newspaper reported Thursday.