Andhra Pradesh expects to add over 1000 mw of wind energy projects and 300 mw of solar photovoltaic power capacity during 2015-16.

The State has added 285 mw of wind energy capacity last fiscal, taking the installed capacity to 1080 mw.

Addressing a press conference here Ajay Jain, Secretary, Energy, Andhra Pradesh, said, “Even though the `Power for All’ scheme had projected a capacity addition of 800 mw through wind farms in the State, we expect to augment additional capacity of 1000 mw this fiscal.”

He said the State had awarded 619 mw to private developers and power purchase agreements have signed with them. “We expect to add about 300 mw during this year and the rest next year. However, the real big boost from the solar power generation would come next financial year when NTPC and others execute large solar power plants with capacity of about 1000 mw plus,” he said.

The State is planning to install about 6,500 solar pump sets during the year supported by the Central Government (MNRE scheme) and funding from Power Finance Corporation. The beneficiaries are now being identified, he said.

Energy efficiency

Referring to the energy efficiency measures taken up by the State, including popularising the usage of LED lights, he said the pilot project has covered three districts and the rest of the 10 districts would be covered this fiscal.

K. Vijayanand, Chairman of AP Transco said, “It was proposed to bring down the transmission and distribution losses from 12.5 per cent to 9 per cent during the year. Last year, it was brought down from 14.95 per cent to 12.5 per cent.”

Referring to capacity addition, Vijayanand said that both the units of Hinduja power project (1040 mw), both units of Krishnapatnam (1600 mw), 1000 mw of wind energy, 300 mw of solar power, 50 mw of hydel project and 500 mw from Central power stations would be available for the State. This works out to about 4000 mw of additional capacity.

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