SHIMLA: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has dreamt it big. He has sought 12 per cent share in the 195 MW Solar power projects of SJVN. He has also targeted to execute additional 500 MW solar power, hydro, hydrogen power projects to make Himachal Pradesh India’s First Green Energy state by 2025 if all goes well as he has willed. But who will take a call to tap Himachal's potential 'Solar Bowl'- the cold desert of Lahaul-Spiti and Upper Kinnaur?
Chief Minister hold a couple of meetings with the officers and managers of Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam, the state-run HP Power Corporation, HP state electricity board (HPSEBL), Directorate of Energy, HIMURJA here on Thursday and Friday.
Chief Minister has sought 12 percent share in all upcoming five solar power projects worth 195 MW of SJVNL coming up in Himachal Pradesh.
The 112.5 MW Thaplan is the major solar plant in Una district, home segment of SJVN CMD Nand Lal Sharma.
Other four in pre-construction stage include 20 MW Bhanjal and Kadh in Una, 20 MW in Fatehpur in (Kangra), 30 MW Kolar in Sirmaur district and 12.5 MW Rajgir in district Kangra.
But neither SJVN, nor HPPC other agencies have cared two hoots to go to cold desert of Lahaul-Spiti and upper Kinnaur, a Reservoir of solar power potential.
The ‘flimsy reason’ given is remoteness of Cold Desert that makes evacuation of power expensive. It is a major challenge for IIT Mandi, IIT Roorkee or IIT Srinagar, IIT Guwahati or others to develop technology to bridge this gap in this age of Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence.
Sukhu heaped praises on SJVN during his meeting with its officers led by its CMD Nand Lal Sharma here on Friday.
As a matter of fact, it was a vision of the then Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh who inked MoU with SJVN fixing the state equity share participation in all the power projects that “SJVN will execute in future anywhere”. 
“SJVN’s plant availability factor is highest in the country. Himachal has received dividend of Rs. 2355 crore against the equity contribution of Rs. 1055 crore and 12 percent free power from the 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri and 412 MW Rampur hydro power projects amounting to around Rs. 7000 crore so far”.
Sukhu said the state has also received 22 percent additional power at the bus-bar rate worth Rs 4200 Crore from Nathpa Jhakri project.
He said the state government intends to make Himachal Pradesh as 1st Green Energy State by the end of 2025.
“It will harness hydro, hydrogen and solar energy and switch on to green products, which will further enhance the premium and advantage in export to earn carbon credits”, CM added.
Chief Minister said SJVN’s pilot plant on Green Hydrogen Generation is underway at Jhakri, and its solar module manufacturing plant I coming up at Parwanoo.
To address the concern of independent power developers, Chief Minister said the government would amend policy for purchase of freehold private land in order to facilitate the company.
To expedite these projects to complete them in timeframe, a Committee will be to set up under Chief Secretary.
Chief Minister directed HPSEBL officers to reduce the maintenance time of machinery used in various power projects.
“It should be avoided in peak power generation season so that efficiency of the power projects increases thereby generating more income”, he added.
CMD, SJVNL, Nand Lal Sharma briefed about various power projects of SJVNL being executed in Himachal Pradesh and apprised him about the progress of the Company.
500 MW Solar Energy Target for 2023-24
Earlier Chief Minister in a meeting of senior officers of Energy department, HPSEBL and HPPC directed officers to make necessary amendments in the existing power policy to ease the norms, opening all the solar projects upto 5 MW capacity for allotment.
“The State Government would also invest in Solar plants and will install 500 MW Solar projects during the year 2023-24”, he said.
Out of this, 200 MW would be installed by HPPCL for which land has been identified for 70 MW capacity.
The rest of the sites will be finalized soon, he said.
“Solar project upto 150 MW capacity would be installed by HIMURJA through private participation”.
The priority would be given to Himachali's in awarding these projects, said Sukhu.
The capacity of the projects will range from 250 KW to 1 MW, he added.
He directed HIMURJA to evolve a mechanism by seeking royalty of solar projects above 3 MW capacity.
In case of land being given to PSUs for developing solar projects, some percentage of land equity may be charged as well, he added.
HIMURJA will ensure 5 percent premium for the state in each solar power project up to 5 MW and 10 percent share in the solar power projects of more than 5 MW capacity.
Chief Minister asked HPPCL to expedite the incomplete power projects like Kashang II and III, Shongtong and Karchham by 2025 by fixing the timeline.
Sukhu directed the HPPCL to appoint a consultant for the preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) within 10 days and submit the report within a month so that the work on the Solar projects could be started.
Department of Energy and HPPCL will identify sites in other States like Rajasthan etc. where the land is available at discounted rates for installation of Mega Solar Plant.
Sukhu also reviewed the progress of 600 MW Kishau Dam where the water component was being financed by the Government of India and state in the ratio 90:10 respectively. Power will be shared 50-50 by Himachal and Uttrakhand States.
Present in the meeting were Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Sanjay Awasthy, MLA, Chander Shekhar, Chief Secretary, Prabodh Saxena, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Bharat Khera, Principal Private Secretary to Chief Minister, Vivek Bhatia, Director Energy, Harikesh Meena, OSD to Chief Minister, Gopal Sharma, Managing Director, HPSEBL, Pankaj Dadwal and other senior officers of SJVN.
