Mayurbhanj: In a boost to rural electrification and renewable energy adoption, Odisha has commissioned a new 2 MW solar power plant integrated into the distribution network of TP Northern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPNODL) at the 33/11 kV primary substation in Bahalda section of Rairangpur division in Mayurbhanj district.
The facility was inaugurated by TPNODL Chief Executive Officer Dushyant Kumar Tyagi in the presence of local landowner Krishna Chandra Mandal, senior company officials, representatives from project developer Slnko Pvt. Ltd., and other stakeholders.Spread across six acres in Baisingi village, Bahalda block, the solar plant was developed under Centre’s PM-KUSUM-A Scheme.
Mandal executed a long-term Power Purchase Agreement with GRIDCO and TPNODL, allowing him to sell the generated power and secure a stable, multi-decade revenue stream for his family—positioning him as a ‘Solar Entrepreneur’.
The project follows a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model by Slnko Pvt Ltd Under optimal conditions, the plant is expected to generate around 8,000 units of electricity per day. The entire output will be fed into the TPNODL network via a dedicated 11 kV line. Situated at the tail end of the distribution feeder, it is expected to improve voltage quality, reduce transmission losses, and enhance grid stability for nearly 5,000 consumers in the area.
Mandal expressed satisfaction with the initiative, noting that it would provide his family with reliable long-term secondary income while contributing to better power supply for the local community.
TPNODL CEO Dushyant Kumar Tyagi highlighted the importance of decentralised renewable energy in building a resilient and sustainable power system. “Integrating solar capacity at the distribution level reduces reliance on conventional sources, cuts transmission losses, and improves local grid performance,” he said.
He described such projects as a scalable model for expanding clean energy across the state.
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM-A) Scheme, implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), enables farmers and landowners to establish grid-connected solar plants (500 kW to 2 MW) on barren or agricultural land. These decentralised projects not only generate income for participants through power sales to state utilities but also help address low-voltage issues in remote areas and improve daytime electricity availability for households and farms.
