The Jammu and Kashmir government has initiated the process of decommissioning the gas turbine at Pampore, which has been lying idle since 2010. The 56.287-acre land will be utilized to set up the largest utility-scale power plant in Jammu Kashmir, with a proposed 10 MW solar power plant.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that the gas turbine’s machinery has deteriorated beyond useful repairs, and reviving it would have huge financial implications. The cost of generation is around Rs 30 per unit, making the power generated unsaleable. Abdullah emphasized the countrywide push towards renewable energy, citing the suitability of the vacant land for a solar power plant.
The project will involve setting up a 10-MW grid-connected agro-solar power plant in a phased manner, with 5 MW to be developed in the first phase on approximately 200 kanal (25 acres) of vacant land. The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has been appointed as the project-implementing agency, and the construction is expected to start by the end of the year.
Jammu Kashmir has an estimated solar potential of 111 GW, with most of it in the Ladakh region. However, mega-size solar power projects have not been developed in the region due to the difficulty in identifying feasible land banks. Despite this, a cumulative capacity of 75 MW of rooftop solar power plants has been installed across all sectors in Jammu Kashmir, with individual capacities ranging from 2 kWp to 200 kWp.
The government is promoting rooftop solar installations through the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which provides subsidies and incentives to encourage the adoption of solar energy. The Jammu Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDC) is also working towards promotion solar energy in the region……
