CHANDIGARH: PSEB Engineers Association has urged the Chief Minister Punjab to review the transfer of Bhatinda thermal plant land to PUDA and instead set up solar and biomass generation plant at that site.
The Association in a letter to CM has stressed that setting up a biomass plant & solar plant at the site of Bathinda thermal is more technically feasible and economically viable in view of available infrastructure and site conditions.
It may be mentioned that PSPCL has proposed to convert existing Unit No 4 to 60 MW biomass plant and to set up 100 MW solar plant at GNDTP Bathinda. The proposal was sent to the government in 2018 and instead of considering the proposal it has been decided to set up an industrial park.
The government of India is stressing the need of setting up of solar, hydel, and other renewable energy sources and forcing the states to use a minimum quantity of renewable energy otherwise state has to purchase RE certificates for a shortfall in meeting its obligation worth crores of rupees without purchasing any power.
In 2017-18 & 2018-19, the net shortfall was about 848.42 million units & 557.88 million units respectively. For this state paid about Rs. 90 crore for 2017-18 and 2019-20 there was a proposal to purchase RE certificates of Rs. 316.52 crore. The purchase of RE certificates means that we are paying to other state generators without receiving any power.
The Association urges that in view of state's commitment to providing low-cost renewable energy & obligation to the environment Punjab should accord approval For this about 600 acres of land will be required, which already has the requisite infrastructure in place. This will ensure proper utilization of the land for the purpose for which it was originally acquired.