HP Focuses on Small Hydropower Projects Development

Shimla, Apr 26 (PTI) To tap alternative sources of green energy, the Himachal Pradesh government has accelerated the development of small hydropower projects - up to 5 MW capacity - in recent years, a spokesman said on Sunday.

The spokesperson said that the state's annual energy consumption is approximately 13,000 million units and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has set a target to meet more than 90 per cent of this demand from renewable sources.

"Over the past three years, seven small hydropower projects with a total capacity of 17.25 MW have been started, 12 projects with a of 23.80 MW have been completed and 18 projects with a capacity of 47.90 MW have been sent for approval."

"Additionally, five projects of 12.65 MW have received technical approval, supplementary implementation agreements for capacity enhancement and other related approvals have been signed for seven projects of 25.7 MW. Another 76 new applications for allocation of projects totalling 75 MW are being processed," he said.

The spokesperson further highlighted CM's vision to make Himachal a green energy state and said that the state government has decided to establish five solar parks with a total capacity of 501 MW and various solar energy projects of 212 MW. "A 200 MW solar power plant would also be set up on barren land in Damtal of Kangra district" he added.

"A total of 728.4 MW solar projects have been allotted to Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited. Of these, 120 ground-mounted solar projects with a capacity of 150.13 MW have already been initiated," he said.