NLCIL to ink pact with TS govt for 200MW solar power supply

Hyderabad: The NLC India Limited (NLCIL) will soon ink a pact with Telangana government for supply of 200-MW solar power from its upcoming plant in Gujarat. The Navratna Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Coal is likely to sign the Power Usage Agreement (PUA) with the Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL) this year.

As on September 30, 2023, the NLCIL along with its subsidiaries is supplying 198.5 MW of thermal & renewable energy (RE) to Telangana and 297.6 MW of thermal & RE power to Andhra Pradesh. By next year, the company will be adding another 200MW solar power, NLCIL Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) M Prasanna Kumar said in an exclusive interview with Bizz Buzz.

He further said, “The works are under progress for 510-MW solar power projects under CPSU scheme. A 10-MW solar project (Mini Smart City at Neyveli Township) was commissioned in June, 2023. Works started for another solar project of 300 MW in Rajasthan, and PUA was signed with the Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RVUNL) in August.”

“For another solar project of 200 MW in Gujarat, tender floated for Pan-India installation. The Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) was placed for construction and commissioning of the project. Recently, we have obtained consent from the Telangana government to procure power from this project at Rs 2.57 per unit,” the CMD said, on the sidelines of the GEO Smart India 2023 held here last week.

He hails from Khammam and on the occasion, he remembered the support received from his teachers and other friends during his childhood. When asked about the company’s plans to enter in the energy & mines sectors in Telugu States, he said: “Given the coal availability in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, we may, in future, discuss setting up some thermal power plants, if conditions favour that.”

The NLCIL has pilot scale projects planned in battery storage systems and pumped storage systems. Speaking about the company’s plans to invest in India’s first mobility valley - Telangana’s Mobility valley (TMV) cluster, Prasanna Kumar said: “NLCIL is the pioneer in the energy storage system. We will seek to participate in all types of initiatives that encompass battery vehicles and energy storage across India.”

“As per our corporate plan, we are contemplating entering into the electric vehicle charging station infrastructure ecosystem. The first energy storage system of grid scale was established in the Andaman for 8-MW hour and is successfully running. Our business approach will be towards the charging station infrastructure and its associated energy supply for the same,” he added.

The NLCIL and WAPCOS Ltd, a PSU under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on pumped storage and hydropower projects for carrying out collaborative technical services and advisories for the development of various pumped storage, reservoir/storage, and run-of-river hydropower projects in the country.

Pumped storage projects are energy storage solutions to achieve the objective of clean and green energy. Telugu States have huge scope for pumped storage hydroelectric power plants. “Based on business opportunities, technical viability and financial feasibility such projects will be considered for participation,” the CMD informed.