Power dept mulls plan to boost power generation

Kolkata: Calculating the expected power requirement in 2025, the state Power department has chalked out an elaborate plan to increase power generation with a focus on the concept of "sustainable power".

The concept of "sustainable power" is the use of both conventional and all forms of non-conventional power. So, besides taking necessary steps to increase production of the conventional form of energy, a move has been made to ensure that more solar power, biomass and wind power is generated in Bengal.

While proposing the budget of his department, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, minister of the state Power and Non-Conventional Energy Sources department, said: "Power generation has considerably increased in the past six years and necessary steps are being taken so that it increases further."

It may be mentioned that a 1,000 MW pumped storage project is coming up at Turga in Purulia, at a cost of Rs 4,800.69 crore. At the same time, another power generation plant of 660 MW is coming up in Sagardighi, apart from a 371 MW hydel power project. Another 200 MW power generation plant is also coming up.

It may be mentioned that in 2011, around 1.2 MW of solar power was generated in the state. Several steps have been taken in this regard and at present, 53.216 MW of solar power is generated in Bengal. Similarly, there was also an increase in biomass power. It was 1.59 MW in 2011 and has increased to 13.29 MW in the past six years.

The state Power department had taken a move of setting up solar panels in schools and other educational institutions. The department had targeted to set up the same in 1,000 schools. So far, they have become successful in setting up solar panels in 673 schools, 21 colleges and 5 universities. Solar panels in the remaining 327 schools will be set up by the end of March.

Chattopadhyay said: "After setting up solar panels in 1,000 schools, the same number of more schools will be identified, where the panels will be installed in the next financial year."

Moreover, work has been started to introduce floating solar panels in large water bodies within the premises of thermal power generation stations. It will come up at Sagardighi, Santaldihi and Bakreswar.

At the same time, a survey is going on in Sagar Island to develop a wind power generation plant.