Solar Parks: 5 locations identified in Udupi near power substations

Udupi: Preliminary work has begun for setting up solar parks in five areas of Udupi district. Mescom officials have identified locations near power substations for this purpose.

Electricity from solar parks is currently available in districts like Belagavi, Chitradurga, and Davangere, but not in the coastal area of Udupi district. Now, locations for solar parks have been identified in five parts of the district.

The identified sites are: 5 acres near Kirimanjeshwar Gram Panchayat, 5 acres near Yarlapadi village, 4.5 acres near Belle Gram Panchayat, 5 acres near Kavadi Gram Panchayat, and 4 acres near Anjaru  village near Manipal.

A total of 23.5 acres of land has been earmarked for solar parks, and a report has been submitted to the Mescom head office. The next step involves obtaining permission from the government for construction, as the land will be provided by the revenue department to Mescom, which in turn lease it to companies setting up the solar park.

Companies interested in constructing the solar parks will conduct site inspections, and the construction process will proceed through a tender.

Electricity from the parks will be available only during daylight hours when solar panels generate power. Mescom will purchase the electricity generated, and agreements will be made between Mescom and specific organizations during the park establishment stage.

However, a separate grid needs to be constructed in the substations for power supply, as direct supply connection to the 11 KV line is not possible.

Dinesh Upadhya, Superintending Engineer of Mescom Udupi, stated that the primary process has commenced, with sites identified and a report submitted to Mescom. The tender process and subsequent construction will follow.