Konark Sun Temple & Town In Odisha To Be Fully Illuminated By Solar Power

Bhubaneswar: The Sun temple at Konark and the surrounding town in Odisha are all set to be fully illuminated by solar power, two years after the Central government announced a plan for solarisation of the site.

This information has been given by the Grid Corporation of Odisha (GRIDCO) in a series of tweets after it signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Konark Suryanagri Pvt Ltd for procurement of 10 MW Solar Power towards 100 per cent solrisation of Konark area.

A 10 MW solar project will be set up in Kalahandi district with an investment of Rs 45 crore by consortium named Konark Suryanagri under the scheme of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

The MNRE had in May 2020 announced a programme for full solarisation of the world famous heritage monument and Konark town.

The solar power generated from the project will be connected to the state grid from where the power will be provided for the illumination of Konark.

As per the agreement, Gridco will procure solar power from Konark Suryanagri Private Limited for 25 years at Rs 2.77 per kWh without having any Central sector transmission charges and Losses.

The total power consumption of Konark area will be offset by solar power. The project will be commissioned by the end of 2023.

GRIDCO said with this, it has reached the renewable power capacity of 2,420 MW including 1,941 MW from solar sources.