10 GW Solar Project Cleared In Andhra Pradesh

• Local media has reported the Andhra Pradesh state cabinet has approved a 10 GW mega solar power project
• It will generate clean power with uninterrupted power supply to farmers for 9 hours straight during day time
• Cabinet has also cleared proposal for IREP under which 1 GW of solar power, 1.2 GW of hydropower and 550 MW of wind power will be integrated

The State Government of Andhra Pradesh in India has cleared a proposal to set up a 10 GW mega solar power project with the objective to provide clean energy for the use of farmers. A report by the news agency Press Trust of India (PTI) said the state cabinet gave a go-ahead to the project in a meeting held recently.

Power generated by the plant will be supplied to the farmers for 9-hours straight during day time, without interruptions. Other details of the said project are not available pertaining to its location, timeline or investment.

In February 2020, local newspaper Business Standard reported that the state government had approved a government plan to develop 10 GW of solar power capacity at Donakonda in Prakasham district on government land to meet state's energy needs. A new entity was to be established for the purpose to be called AP Green Energy Corporation that will sell solar power from this capacity to state utilities for INR 3.00 per kWh.

The PTI also reported Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy's led state cabinet to have approved setting up of an Integrated Renewable Energy Project (IREP)  to generate clean energy from 550 MW of wind power, 1.2 GW of hydropower and 1 GW of solar power.

Mercom India Research says the IREP refers to the concept of integrating more than 1 renewable energy source in developing projects. The state had cumulative installed solar power capacity of 3.53 GW as on May 31, 2020.