(a) whether the Government/ National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (NTPC) proposes to set up battery storage plants in Andaman and Nicobar Islands;
(b) if so, the details and the benefits thereof;
(c) the sites identified for the said purpose; and
(d) the total capacity and the expenditure likely to be incurred for the setting up of the said plants?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR POWER, COAL, NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY & MINES (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a): Yes Madam. As part of greening the islands, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has asked NTPC Ltd. to set up distributed grid connected Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Power Plants with battery storage in Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
(b): This will help in – i) reduction in cost of electricity generation; ii) reduction in carbon emission into the atmosphere; and iii) phasing out use of diesel for electricity generation.
(c): The sites identified for the projects are – Manglutang and Chidiyatapu in Port Blair.
(d): The total capacity at 2 sites would be about 25 MW (Manglutang - 17 MW and Chidiyatapu - 8 MW). Since, Solar Power Plants with battery storage is being set up for the first time in the country and Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has not so far notified the benchmark cost/tariff for such plants, expenditure on setting up these plants will be known only on completion of the tendering process by NTPC.
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