EESL commissions 8 MW solar plant for MSEDCL

The solar plant, installed at Devdaithan village in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district, will provide eight hours of uninterrupted electricity for agricultural loads served by the respective feeder.

December 15, 2020 Uma Gupta

Solarizing an agricultural feeder requires setting up a community-level solar plant near the substation.

Image: Encavis AG

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has announced the commissioning of a 7987 KWp solar project for Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL). The project, installed at Devdaithan village in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district, is part of the initiative to solarize the Discom’s agriculture feeders under the Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana (MSKVY).

The Devdaithan project was completed in six months.

EESL has committed to supply the state DISCOM with 679 MW of solar power under MSKVY.

It has already installed two solar projects in the Ahmednagar district, including a 507 KW project at Ashwi and an 858 KW project at Koplewadi. Under these projects, EESL has solarized feeders supplying electricity for agricultural loads, benefitting 3000 agricultural consumers. The initiative has also avoided 11,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

EESL has invested INR 33.7 crore in this project.

As part of an MoU with MSEDCL, EESL installs, finances, operates, and maintains decentralized power plants (0.5 MW- 10 MW) in the open spaces around MSEDCL sub-stations. MSEDCL provides rented space, distributes the power generated, and undertakes metering, among other key services.

EESL has completed its survey of all projected sub-stations and solar plants’ construction is already underway at most sites. Generation capacity of 107 MW from 108 decentralized solar plants is already installed.

Speaking about the benefits of the scheme, Aseemkumar Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director, MSEDCL, said, “The initiative has the potential of providing a high-quality energy source to the agricultural sector and will be beneficial to millions of farmers across Maharashtra. It will also greatly benefit the state’s distribution companies.”

“MSEDCL is exploring agri-feeder solarization on mass basis…the land acquisition process on a lease basis from government and private parties is underway to provide day-time power supply to the agriculture-sector consumers. Private parties can offer their land located within 5 km periphery of the nearby substation to MSEDCL under this project on a lease basis.”

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