Hyderabad: Telangana, which is hugely power deficient, needs to get into solar power in a big way. The state has called for 500 MW solar power bids, which might be a problem in the future. The state should ideally be planning huge capacity addition due to a lower Plant Load Factor (PLF).
AP, meanwhile, is looking at developing a 2500-MW solar power pool, which might also not be enough if solar power is to be a major source. Also, since the option of solar power is available only during the day, the cost of batteries for storage needs to be reduced.
“Unlike hydel and thermal plants where the PLF can go as high as 70 to 100 per cent (in case of hydel plants), solar power needs to have a larger capacity for more generation. Solar power plants, unlike thermal or hydel plants, have relatively small Plant Load Factor (capacity utilisation) of around 18 to 20 per cent and therefore the capacity being planned should be expansive,” said sector expert Mr A. Punna Rao.
