Madhya Pradesh's 1,200 MW Solar-Battery Projects Await Government Nod, Delhi, Haryana And Bihar On Board

Madhya Pradesh has secured agreements with Haryana, Delhi, and Bihar to develop 1,200 MW of solar and battery storage projects. While the state government is still awaiting approval, once these projects are operational, they will help meet the region's electricity demands during peak evening hours.

The anticipated projects include a 500 MW partnership with both Delhi and Haryana, a 200 MW collaboration with Bihar, and a 1,920 MW pumped storage project nearing completion in Mandsaur. These projects are expected to provide Madhya Pradesh with additional electricity from October to April, when demand is highest, while the partner states will draw power from April to September.

Manu Shrivastava, an Additional Chief Secretary for the New and Renewable Energy Department, stated that projects can be set up within one or two years, offering affordable power once the energy department agrees to purchase it. Solar power is significantly cheaper than thermal energy, with solar energy priced at Rs 2.15 per unit compared to Rs 6 per unit for thermal energy. Moreover, solar projects take only 12-18 months to install, while thermal power plants require at least six years.

The source highlights that solar projects start generating power earlier than thermal power projects, offering a quicker return on investment. The story also covers a separate incident unrelated to the energy projects, involving a sexual assault and murder case in Bhopal, where protesters have blocked a police station demanding the death penalty for the accused.