A 1,500 MW solar plant is supplying 195 MW of electricity per day. Symbolic picture
Highlights
Indian Railways is getting electricity supply from plants located in Agar, Shajapur and Neemuch. Renewable energy capacity in Madhya Pradesh has increased 12 times in the last 12 years. Solar plants will also be installed in Dhar, Ashoknagar, Bhind, Shivpuri and Sagar districts.
Vaibhav Sridhar, Naiduniya, Bhopal. Renewable energy is being encouraged across the country to reduce dependence on thermal power and protect the environment. Madhya Pradesh is working rapidly in this direction. Currently 6,418 MW of electricity is being produced.
Many steps are being taken to ensure maximum use of electricity produced during the day. Under this, Delhi Metro is being operated with solar energy produced in Rewa. Currently, trains in seven states (Goa, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha) are running with solar energy produced in Madhya Pradesh.
Indian Railways is being supplied 195 MW electricity per day from the 1,500 MW solar plant located at Agar, Shajapur and Neemuch. A 25-year contract has been signed for this.
Renewable energy capacity in Madhya Pradesh has increased 12 times in 12 years. In 2012, 491 MW electricity was produced from solar, wind, biomass and small hydro projects, which will increase to 6,418 MW in 2024. The maximum growth has been in the field of solar energy.
Now the installed capacity has become 3,500 MW. The government is taking several steps to make maximum use of the energy produced during the day. While industrial units are being encouraged to increase consumption during the day, from April 1, 2025, domestic consumers will also be given a 20 percent discount on energy charges on electricity consumption during the day.
Along with this, Indian Railways is being given 195 MW electricity per day from April 2024. It is using it to run trains in Goa, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha. Madhya Pradesh as well as the Railways are benefiting from this.
Delhi Metro to save Rs 100 crore annually
Officials of the Renewable Energy Department say that 26 percent of the electricity from the 750 MW Rewa plant is being supplied to the Delhi Metro. Due to this, it is saving about Rs 100 crore annually. Similarly, Indian Railways will also save more than Rs 250 crore.
In fact, the rate of electricity produced from the plant located in Agar is Rs 2.44 per unit, the rate of the Shajapur plant is Rs 2.33 per unit and the minimum rate of electricity produced from the Neemuch plant is Rs 2.14 per unit. Electricity is being supplied to Indian Railways from these three plants of 1,500 MW.
The power available in excess of 195 MW is being taken by Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company Limited. Even before the establishment of the plants, the government is giving a guarantee that whatever power is produced, the government will either take it itself or enter into a contract with someone.
Work going on on several projects
Work is going on on many solar energy projects in Madhya Pradesh. These include Agar, Dhar, Ashoknagar, Bhind, Shivpuri and Sagar districts. Plants of 7,500 MW capacity will be installed here. 15 thousand hectares of land has also been marked for this.
Manu Shrivastava, Additional Chief Secretary of Energy Department, says that Madhya Pradesh is a surplus state in terms of electricity. Along with production, emphasis is also being laid on increasing consumption during the day. Indian Railways is being given solar energy in seven states. Soon, Uttar Pradesh will also be given electricity from the plant to be set up in Morena in the state.