JULY 20239TOP STORYSOUTH EASTERN COALFIELDS PLANS RS 1,218 CR INVESTMENT TO SET UP SOLAR PROJECTSGOVERNMENT PLANS TO INVEST $16,000 BILLION ON HYDROPOWER PROJECTSThe Ministry of Coal, South Eastern Coalfields Ltd. (SECL), a coal-producing affiliate of Coal India Ltd., plans to create rooftop and ground-mounted solar power plants with a combined 600 MW capacity in the next years. The project is consistent with the business's plan to grow and diversify, attain "Net Zero Energy," and further the bigger "Panchamrit" objective, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared at CoP-26 and calls for achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2070. The SECL project is anticipated to cost more over Rs 1000 crore to develop. The ministry stated that some of these projects would be carried out in BOO (Build-Own-Operate) or RESCO (Renewable Energy Service Company) form.SECL recently put into operation rooftop solar projects with a capacity of 580 kWp in the Johilla, Jamuna-Kotma, and Kusmunda Areas. SECL already has solar power projects totaling more than 180 MW in various stages of development scattered across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The highest capacity rooftop solar project in the entire company with a commissioned capacity of roughly 280 kWp is at Johilla Area. The project will produce roughly 4,20,000 units of electricity and reduce annual power costs by about Rs 21 lakh. The two biggest solar projects currently being built each have a 40 MW capacity. The power ministry has recommended a plan with an initial investment of roughly 16,000 crore to help new hydropower projects financially. The financial assistance will include grants and supporting infrastructure that will allow the north-eastern states to choose stakes in such projects. According to one of the persons, the plan would be included in the larger hydropower strategy that was already submitted to the Cabinet for approval last month.A fiscal support of roughly Rs. 12,000 crore will be given to supporting infrastructure for hydropower projects. While roads and bridges now make up the enabling infrastructure for such projects, the proposal also calls for the addition of transmission lines from the power plant to the pooling stations. Pumped hydropower storage initiatives might potentially profit financially.The government proposes a hydroproject scheme with a $16,000 crore budget. According to the source, the total sums anticipated to be allotted for such help is 4,000 crore. North-eastern states that seek to form a joint venture for such projects are expected to receive financial assistance for their stake.Another source stated that Arunachal Pradesh holds the majority of the potential for future hydropower capacity. According to a report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy, among states with hydropower potential, Arunachal Pradesh has the largest identified capacity.
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