May 4, 2012

The State Government is planning a 4,000-acre solar park in Bijapur district. The solar park, which will come up in Mannur, will be similar to the solar farm at Charanka in Gujarat. The Government has set a target of 18 months to complete the solar farm and will start with small capacities of 80-100 MW, and gradually increase capacity.

The idea of having a solar park is to see that private players will be facilitated in implementation of projects – basic infrastructure like power evacuation support, water and roads will be provided.

KREDL is the state nodal agency for promoting renewable energy in the State, and will be involved in allotting projects at the park and facilitate implementation of projects. Most projects that will come up there would be of private developers.

Under the Karnataka Renewable Energy Policy 2009-14, the State plans to add about 4,300 MW and proposes to bring in Rs. 23,890 crore of investments.