Odisha’s Solar Energy Potential Estimated At 25.78 GWp, Says Union Minister

Bhubaneswar: The solar energy potential of Odisha has been estimated to be 25.78 GWp, said Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy and Power RK Singh.

The Minister said this in reply to unstarred question from Odisha MP Amar Patnaik in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Patnaik asked whether Odisha has a potential of 1.5 lakh MW of solar energy, the criteria and factors the Ministry take into consideration for calculating the estimated solar energy capacity of a state and the measures taken by the Centre to support the Odisha government in enhancing the state’s solar energy infrastructure.

The Minister, in his reply, said the Odisha Government has reported that the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iForest) has presented a higher estimate of Odisha’s solar potential at 169 GWp.

But, as per the solar potential assessment report prepared by the National Institute of Solal Energy (NISE), the solar energy potential of Odisha has been estimated at 25.78 GWp.

He further said the NISE has estimated the state-wise solar potential of the country on various factors. It has estimated that 3% of wasteland of a state of Wasteland Atlas 2010 can be used for solar power.

The SPV module efficiency was considered as 15% and 50 MWp SPV plant can be installed in 1 sq km of wasteland. For estimating solar roof top system, the data of census 2011 was taken, the minister said.