The Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) on Tuesday commissioned a 7987 KWp solar-agro project at Devdaithan.
As a part of the initiative, the DISCOM’s agri-feeders are being transformed into solar agri-feeders.
The project is part of EESL’s commitment to the state under the Mukhya Mantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana, wherein it will supply the state DISCOM with 679 MW of solar power. The project is completed in six months.
EESL has already installed two solar projects in Ahmednagar district, including a 507 KW project in Ashwi and 858 KW project in Koplewadi.
Under these projects, EESL has transformed feeders supplying electricity for agri-purposes into solar feeders, which are helping 3000 agricultural consumers.
The initiative has also reduced 11500 tons in CO2 emissions, which will result into 2.2 Crores savings to DISCOM per year. EESL has invested 33.7 crores in this project.
As a part of an MoU with MSEDCL, EESL installs, finances, operates, and maintains decentralized power plants (0.5 MW- 10 MW) in the open spaces around MSEDCL sub-stations.
MSEDCL provides rented space, distributes of power generated, and undertakes metering, among other key services.
Commenting on the announcement, Saurabh Kumar, EVC, EESL said “We consider it as an honour to support the clean energy aspirations of MSEDCL, India’s largest distribution utility. The speed and scale of our solar energy installations in Maharashtra are setting a powerful benchmark for partnerships with other DISCOMs across the country.”
EESL has completed its survey of all projected sub-stations and construction of such solar plants is already underway at most sites. 107 MW of installed generation capacity is already in place, from 108 decentralized solar plants.
Commenting on the initiative, Rajat Sud, Managing Director, EESL, said “Our partnership with MSEDCL exemplifies the role of the sector in providing access to low-cost, low-carbon energy to Indian consumers. Our teams are working tirelessly to solarise MSEDCL’s unused substation land so that more and more Maharashtra customers can benefit from the initiative.”
Speaking about the benefits of the scheme, Aseemkumar Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director, MSEDCL, said, “The initiative has the potential of providing a high-quality energy source to the agricultural sector and will be beneficial to millions of farmers across Maharashtra. It will also greatly benefit the state’s distribution companies. MSEDCL is exploring Ag feeder solarisation on mass basis , for which the land acquation process on lease basis from Govt and private Parties is underway, so as to provide day time power supply to the Ag consumers. Private parties can offer their land located within 5 kms periphery of the neaby substation to MSEDCL under this project on lease basis. By supporting the implementation of the Mukhya Mantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana throughout the state, we will enable the state to produce 1.4 crore units of low-carbon electricity, while reducing CO2 emissions by 9.73 lakh ton.”