NVVN to Lead Solar Power Sales

NEW DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com) — Mr Farooq Abdullah, the minister for New and Renewable energy along with the Minister of Power Sushil Kumar Shinde has announced that India will generate more than 1000MW of solar power by 2013.
Both the ministry has released the guidelines for selection of New Grid Connected Solar Power Projects under the guidance of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM). NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) is the nodal agency for sale and purchase of power under the solar mission.

According to the plan, 500 MW will be generated as solar-thermal power and another 500MW will be produced from photovoltaic cell in the next 3 years. NVVN will invite any kind of interest from developers of solar photovoltaic projects under this scheme. In order to have a larger participation, only one application per company shall be permitted to develop a single project.

Power companies have welcomed this effort with open arms. The target would be implemented in 3 phase- phase 1 up to 2012-13, phase 2 from 2013-2017 and phase 3 from 2017-2022.
A country, where the average rate of solar power production is less than 5MW, this development will surely help in reducing the problem of power shortage very soon.