5 megawatt solar-powered electricity connected to national grid

The national grid has seen an addition of 5 megawatts of power produced from the solar grid. The solar-powered electricity produced from a Solar Farm Pvt Ltd at Belchautara of Shuklagandaki Municipality-5 in Tanahu district was connected to the national grid.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal inaugurated the solar energy project here today which happens to be the first private sector company in the country to ink a power purchase agreement with the government.

Stating that the energy sector in the country was fostering due to the participation of private and government sectors, Minister Bhusal share that the concerned State organs would build reservoir-related projects in all seven provinces.

According to her, the decision was made to construct a 200-megawatt solar power project in Province No 2. She added that free electricity up to 20 units for people living below the poverty line would benefit over 14 million people from 2.8 million households.

As for the expensive electricity tariff, she said that the government had decided to reduce the tariff. The Minister also encouraged one and all to use the electric stoves (induction) to optimize the electricity being produced in surplus in the country.

Minister Bhusal informed that Dudhkoshi Reservoir-based project would be built in Province No 1, solar power project would be established in Province No 2, Budhigandaki project in Gandaki Province, Naumure in Lumbini, Lansinggaad in Karnali Province, and Paschim Soti in Sudurpaschim Province.

Similarly, solar power project’s chairperson Mohan Gurung said that the project was initiated in 2017 but due to COVID-19, it was delayed.

There are a total of 13,500 solar panels in the solar power projects that span across 100 ropani of land. The project aims to produce around 24,000 units of electricity in a daily basis.

The Nepal Electricity Authority would purchase the power produced from this solar power project for Rs 7.30 per unit for the next 25 years, it was shared.