Andhra Pradesh gearing up to store solar power for farmers: Report

Andhra Pradesh will become the first state in the country and Asia to store solar energy to facilitate power supply to agriculture sector

Andhra Pradesh is reportedly gearing up to store solar power for the farmers in the state. The Pioneer reports that Andhra Pradesh will become the first state in the country and Asia to store solar energy to facilitate power supply to agriculture sector. This initiative is expected to bringing end to farmers’ dependence on grid-based power supply for cultivation.

According to the report the move to store solar power of around 100 MW was taken month after Andhra Pradesh CM- N Chandrababu Naidu returned from the US where solar energy storage facilities are available.

Naidu has drafted the blueprint for the action plan after detailed discussion with Energy Department Principle Secretary Ajay Jain and CMD of AP Transco K Vijayanand. Ensuing which, the Power Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh floated tender for lithium ion batteries with storage capacity of 1 mega watt .

The report states that AP Transco is establishing 1 MW solar energy storage system in Kassumarra village of Nellore District and Makkuva village of Vizayanagaram District. AP Transco will set up two solar plants with installed capacity of 5MW in both villages under 33/11 KV substations.

The energy generated from the solar plant will be supplied to agriculture sector in day time and surplus power will be stored in Li batteries.

The solar power project is expected to complete within six months and not beyond January 2018.