In Step Towards Green Energy, Assam Gets 25 MW Solar Power Plant

In an attempt to make Assam self-reliant in green energy, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday inaugurated the 25 MW generation capacity solar power project at Lalpul in Udalguri district.

The Rs 300-crore solar power project - established on 'build, own, operate' mode under Assam Solar Energy Policy 2017 - is expected to benefit around 65,000 consumers in Udalguri.

Mr Sarma said he committed to take the development of the state in the next five years to new heights by driving the state power generation towards non-conventional energy sources instead of conventional sources of energy.

He said that in the next five years, 50 per cent of power demand in Assam would be met through solar energy.

Solar power generation in the state would touch 215 MW in the next two months. By 2026, Assam would become a key solar power producing state in the country, Mr Sarma announced.

Of all the problems in the world, climate change is one of the major problems, he said, adding that in its bid to take the development of the state to a new height, the Assam government has taken a decision to strike a balance between development and its nature. Therefore, steps have been taken to reap the benefits of renewable sources of energy.

He also said that in the next five years, Assam will be one of the leading states in the country to use renewable sources of energy to steer development of the state and mitigate the results of environmental pollution.

Mr Sarma, on May 31, inaugurated another solar power project at Amguri in Sivasagar district with a generation capacity of 70 MW, northeast India's biggest solar power project.

The Assam government plans to generate 1,000 MW of solar power with an investment of Rs 5,000 crore and to set up a joint venture company (JVC) with Neyveli Lignite Corporation (now NLC India Ltd) for the purpose, the Chief Minister announced earlier.