Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd. has embarked upon a Public-Private-Partnersip project for a 1000 hectare solar park at Mannur village in Bijapur.

The Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd. (KREDL) is in the process of seeking the requisite State Government approval for a 1000 hectare solar park at Mannur village in Bijapur district on public-private partnership (PPP) model. According to the Chairman of KREDL, Mr. C.M. Nimbannavar, the Mannur site is ideal for the generation of 500 MW of solar power, given its almost 300 days of sunshine.

KREDL had already initiated measures to facilitate generation of 80 MW of solar power in Bijapur and Gulbarga districts, and is working on increasing solar power generation by 40 MW every year. Projects such as these would go a long way in bridging the electricity supply gap that is ailing Karnataka.

Key to the success of infrastructure projects of such importance is the selection of the appropriate technology and the right partners for the project. Establishment of smart grids, and deployment of highly efficient sun-tracking systems that generate almost 40% more electricity than similarly rated fixed solar arrays, are initiatives that augur well for such projects. The integration of large capacity energy storage systems into such projects further enhances the performance of the solar parks.