The Visakhapatnam Port Trust is the first among the major ports in the country to take up a solar power plant and the 10-MW solar power project is likely to be commissioned by March 2016.

Adjacent to runway The port issued a letter of intent to Jakson Engineer Ltd of Noida on Saturday. The company would be establishing solar panels to generate 2 MW by January 15 and the rest of 8 MW by March 20, 2016. The company was also entrusted with the AMC for seven years. The total cost of the project is ₹60 crore.

The solar panels are being set up over 50 acres of port land adjacent to the runway, where no construction is allowed. The site was identified by the experts of Solar Energy Corporation of India.

Plea for waiver extension The VPT, which first planned to set up a solar power project in Rayalaseema districts in view of the inherent advantage of land value and solar radiation availability, preferred to set up the 10 MW project on its idle land here. “The government has waived off wheeling charges for only two years and if it is imposed again in future, having the power project away would become a significant expense,” Port Chairman MT Krishna Babu said here on Saturday.

“This is not only the first for any major port in India but also the biggest solar power project in North Andhra. It would also serve as a demonstrator and be visible to every visitor flying into the city,” he said.

The AP Eastern Power Distribution Company Ltd would be assisting the VPT in synchronising it with the State power grid. “The project would help us reach our first year target of commissioning renewable energy projects,” Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Ltd Chairman & MD R Mutyala Raju said.

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