Visakhapatnam port will be the first major port to commence a solar power project as part of the Shipping Ministry’s ‘Solarisation of Ports’ initiative, according to sources.
The initiative aims to roll out utility-scale solar photovoltaic power plants at major ports that have abundant land. The large-scale photovoltaic system is designed to supply merchant power into the electricity grid.
Out of the 12 major ports, the project is being implemented at seven — Visakhapatnam, Paradip, Kolkata (and Haldia), Kamarajar port, VO Chidambaranar, New Mangalore and Kandla.
Solar Energy Corporation of India is the project management consultant for these projects.
The Visakhapatnam Port Trust expects to commission a 2 MW plant by January and an 8 MW plant by March.
The project was awarded to Jakson Engineering with ground development, topography and contour completed on 40 acres and going on in the remaining 10 acres, the sources said.
Paradip, Kolkota and New Mangalore could also see their respective projects getting commissioned by the end of 2016. The sources said the proposed capacity across the seven ports is 110 MW but the feasible capacity is only 48 MW due to various issues, including land.
At VOC port in Tuticorin, a proposal for land transfer from the Salt Commissioner was submitted to the Shipping Ministry recently, they added.