About 6,000 MW of additional power is expected to be added to the Karnataka grid, of which 4,800 to 5,200 MW is expected to be available by 2018.

“The additional power is expected to meet the State’s total requirements by 2020,” said Karnataka Energy Minister DK Shivakumar.

“Additional quantum of power to be added to the grid also includes 2,000 MW from the solar power park being set up in Pavagada by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC),” he added.

The State government on Tuesday signed the power sale agreement (PSA) with the NTPC and the five Escoms of the State to purchase solar power. The State is expected to get 1,500 MW of power from the solar park from September 2018.

Pavagada solar park

The NTPC solar park, which is the country’s biggest, is to come up on nearly 12,000 acres of land. Of the total capacity of 2,000 MW, NTPC itself will develop 1,600 MW.

Of this, 600 MW is being taken up under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission which would be available at Rs 3.30 a unit. The 500 MW of power, which will be made available by the NTPC under the first phase from September 2017, will be shared among the five Escoms. The Bescom will get the highest share of 46.39 per cent followed by Hescom (19 per cent) and Gescom (15.12 per cent).

Shivakumar said as solar power is available during daytime, the government is also thinking of supplying this to farmers.

Currently, farmers are getting only a part of the three-phase power during daytime to operate their irrigation pump sets. The land for the Pavagada solar park has been taken from farmers on lease of ₹21,000 a year.

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