Kolkata, Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) on Friday announced that it plans to invest Rs 20,000 crore by 2030 to install nearly 4,000 MW of solar capacity, a top official said.
The corporation, set up for flood control and development in the Damodar Valley, envisages investment worth Rs 50,000-60,000 crore by 2030 to upgrade thermal power plants, pumped storage and solar power, he said he.
Its objective is to add about 10,000 MW in thermal and green energy, which will raise its total installed capacity to about 16,700 MW.
Of DVC's current 6,700 MW of installed capacity, 6,540 MW is thermal.
"Energy demand is growing strongly in the north, south and west of the country. We are expanding sustainably with the right mix of thermal and renewable energy, which will keep energy costs affordable. We will add 3,720 MW in thermal capacity and nearly 4,000 MW in solar power by 2030," DVC Chairman S. Suresh Kumar said during an interaction on the occasion of the corporation's 77th Foundation Day.
The Kolkata-based corporation now has only 14 MW of installed solar capacity and is executing a 348 MW project in association with NTPC.
A battery storage capacity of 250MW/hour is also being considered, he stated.
Kumar mentioned that DVC has been exempted from importing coal due to the proximity of its power plants to the mine mouth.
Recently, the Union Power Ministry extended a coal import advisory to domestic thermal plants for 4 per cent blend till October 15 to ensure adequate supply of fuel during the monsoon season.
DVC also plans to step up its captive coal mining from its Tubed block in Jharkhand with a separate rail siding for smoother evacuation.
"With the dedicated railway siding for cargo, we will be able to increase production to six million tonnes. We have proposed to the Railways that we would construct the facility at our cost. Due to the current evacuation hurdles, our production is less than two million tonnes. of tonnes of captive coal is already cheaper, and if Coal India revises the price further, our coal becomes extremely affordable," Kumar said.
The maximum annual production can reach up to nine million tons, he said.
"DVC's current coal requirement is 28-30 million tonnes," Kumar added.
The rest of the coal demand is met by supplies from Coal India subsidiaries.
The corporation cannot bid for a new coal block due to legal hurdles related to a legacy case, involving an earlier joint venture with Bengal Emta Coal Mines, the official said.
Kumar, former power secretary of West Bengal, said that in addition to the 4,000 MW of solar power, the corporation plans to set up two pumped storage facilities at Logu Pahar in Jharkhand (1,500 MW) and Panchet in West Bengal (1,000 MW).
He intends to make the Panchet project a joint venture with the West Bengal government.
Talking about Jharkhand dues, the DVC official said that the previous dues have been reduced to around Rs 1,000 crore and the state is clearing the same.
The corporation, set up for flood control and development in the Damodar Valley, envisages investment worth Rs 50,000-60,000 crore by 2030 to upgrade thermal power plants, pumped storage and solar power, he said he.
Its objective is to add about 10,000 MW in thermal and green energy, which will raise its total installed capacity to about 16,700 MW.
Of DVC's current 6,700 MW of installed capacity, 6,540 MW is thermal.
"Energy demand is growing strongly in the north, south and west of the country. We are expanding sustainably with the right mix of thermal and renewable energy, which will keep energy costs affordable. We will add 3,720 MW in thermal capacity and nearly 4,000 MW in solar power by 2030," DVC Chairman S. Suresh Kumar said during an interaction on the occasion of the corporation's 77th Foundation Day.
The Kolkata-based corporation now has only 14 MW of installed solar capacity and is executing a 348 MW project in association with NTPC.
A battery storage capacity of 250MW/hour is also being considered, he stated.
Kumar mentioned that DVC has been exempted from importing coal due to the proximity of its power plants to the mine mouth.
Recently, the Union Power Ministry extended a coal import advisory to domestic thermal plants for 4 per cent blend till October 15 to ensure adequate supply of fuel during the monsoon season.
DVC also plans to step up its captive coal mining from its Tubed block in Jharkhand with a separate rail siding for smoother evacuation.
"With the dedicated railway siding for cargo, we will be able to increase production to six million tonnes. We have proposed to the Railways that we would construct the facility at our cost. Due to the current evacuation hurdles, our production is less than two million tonnes. of tonnes of captive coal is already cheaper, and if Coal India revises the price further, our coal becomes extremely affordable," Kumar said.
The maximum annual production can reach up to nine million tons, he said.
"DVC's current coal requirement is 28-30 million tonnes," Kumar added.
The rest of the coal demand is met by supplies from Coal India subsidiaries.
The corporation cannot bid for a new coal block due to legal hurdles related to a legacy case, involving an earlier joint venture with Bengal Emta Coal Mines, the official said.
Kumar, former power secretary of West Bengal, said that in addition to the 4,000 MW of solar power, the corporation plans to set up two pumped storage facilities at Logu Pahar in Jharkhand (1,500 MW) and Panchet in West Bengal (1,000 MW).
He intends to make the Panchet project a joint venture with the West Bengal government.
Talking about Jharkhand dues, the DVC official said that the previous dues have been reduced to around Rs 1,000 crore and the state is clearing the same.
