Visakhapatnam Port Becomes First Port in India to Operate on 100% Solar Power

In a significant feat, the Visakhapatnam Port has announced that since May 2016, it has been operating on 100 percent solar energy. According to the representatives, it is by far the first and only port in the country to have accomplished this landmark.

 “The 10 MW captive solar projects was commissioned on May 17, 2016, and since then the port has become energy self-sufficient,” said a Visakhapatnam Port Trust executive.

“The captive solar PV project generates adequate electricity to meet our demands and also allows us to sell the extra power generated to private operators (third-party) in the port,” further the spokesperson.

Talking about revenue generation from the sale of power from this project, the representative supposed, “In the first half of 2018, we sold power to third-party consumers at a tariff of Rs.5.53 ($0.078)/kWh. This tariff is mutually beneficial, because if we supply to distribution companies, the tariff will be about Rs.3.50 ($0.049)/kWh. Now, if these private operators procure from DISCOMs, they will have to pay approximately Rs.7 ($0.098)/kWh. By selling our power we are benefited by Rs.2 ($0.028)/kWh and the third-party is also benefited by nearly the same amount.”

“At present, we are selling 50 percent of our generation to third-party buyers. For example, we lately tendered 750,000 units of banked electricity (generated from solar project) to be procured by third-parties,” the representative added.