Question : Solar Power Project in Ladakh

(a) whether the 7500 MW Solar Power Project which was sanctioned in the year 2014 is executed on ground in Leh and Zanskar regions of Ladakh and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(b) whether the Government has any targeted time to complete the project on ground;
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor:
(d) whether the Government has any data based report about the potential of Solar, Geothermal, Wind and other renewable energies in Ladakh and if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government has any plan to explore the renewable energies in Ladakh; and
( f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY, POWER and MoS for SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
(SHRI R.K. SINGH)
(a) to (c) No such project was sanctioned in 2014. The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) issued a tender for development of 7500 MW Solar PV Projects in Leh and Kargil districts on 31.12.2018. Site visits are required to be undertaken by prospective bidders and same would be taken up after melting of snow and gaining accessibility to the sites. Based on inputs from the prospective bidders, further tendering activities would be taken up. The last date of bid submission is 30.04.2020. As per the tender documents, implementation time for the project is 48 months from effective date of Power Purchase Agreement. This apart, two Solar plants of 7 MW capacity with 21 MWh Battery Energy Storage Systems, will be set up one each in Leh and Kargil.
(d) As reported by Union Territory of Ladakh, the details of potential of Solar, Geothermal, Wind and other Renewable Energies (RE) in Ladakh are as under:


RE Source Leh Kargil Total
Solar 35,000 MW 25,000 MW 60,000 MW
Wind 1,00,000 MW NA 1,00,000 MW
Small Hydro 2000 MW 72 MW 2072 MW
Biomass Not assessed
Geothermal Not assessed

(e) & (f) The Government has planned to set up following solar projects in Union Territory of Ladakh:

i) Two Solar plants of 7 MW capacity with 21 MWh Battery Energy Storage Systems one each in Leh and Kargil.

ii) 50 MW Solar Project in Leh through Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI).

This apart, National Institute of Wind Energy has taken initiative for setting up of 100 m high wind masks in Leh to collect wind data. The details of constructed / under construction Small Hydro Projects in the Union Territory of Ladakh are given in Annexure.

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