Guwahati: The Rs 300-crore Amguri solar park project, Assam's largest solar power plant, is scheduled to be commissioned on May 31 by Assam Chief Minister, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma.

M/s Jackson Power Private Limited is the project's Solar Power Developer (SPD), with Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL) serving as the solar power park developer (SPPD).

The APGCL has leased the project site, and the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) will acquire power from M/s Jackson Power Private Limited under a power purchase agreement (PPA), according to officials. The officials also stated that owing to a property dispute over a piece of the 340-acre tract of land, only 50 MW of the project's capacity could be commissioned at this time. The project is constructed with an investment of around Rs. 344.20 Crore. 

The remaining 20 MW will be operational in around two months. They claim that during the testing runs, almost 40 MW of power is being created.

The entire solar power generated from this project will be supplied to APDCL at a fixed tariff of Rs. 3.98 per unit for 25 years.

Sarbananda Sonowal, the then Chief Minister, lay the groundwork for the project on February 19, 2019.

The APGCL operates six operational power plants in the state: the 64.5-MW Namrup Thermal Power Station, the 98.4-MW Namrup Replacement Power Project Phase-1, the 97.2-MW Lakwa Thermal Power Station, the 70-MW Lakwa Replacement Power Project, the 100-MW Karbi Langpi Hydroelectric Project, and the 13.5-MW Myntriang Small Hydro-Electric Project Stages 1 and 2.

However, despite having a projected capacity of 443.2 MW, these plants are now providing just 230 MW of power.

"Dependency on fossil fuel-based power is to be minimised in days to come and renewable power is the only alternative. To have a robust clean generation is of paramount importance. Moreover, the generation capacity of the state is also in need of augmentation. Renewable purchase obligation is also to be met as per governing trajectory," a statement from APDCL read. 

According to APGCL sources, the daily electricity consumption in Assam is 1,874 MW during peak hours and 1,283 MW during off-peak hours. Because APGCL only generates about 230 MW of electricity per day, APDCL (Assam Power Distribution Company Limited) meets the remaining demand from other sources. With this in mind, the APGCL has set a target of generating 5,000 MW of power by 2030.

The Assam Government is actively deliberating on notifying a renewable energy policy soon.  The state has FURTHER planned to install 1,000 MW of solar power plants on available government lands. A portion of the same is envisaged to be installed with storage capacity. 

"The capacity addition of green power in the form of solar power capacity will help in not just meeting the solar RPO (renewable purchase obligation), but also support the State in meeting the target capacity addition. Further, surplus generation in the state will help Assam in supplying renewable energy to other states which is in the larger interest of the country and help in the reduction of carbon emission with the enhancement of clean and green energy portfolio," APDCL added in its statement. 

Notably, the mentions of a solar part were first made in 1987. After much delay, the project has finally seen the light of the day.