NEW DELHI: South Eastern Coalfields Ltd. (SECL), one of Coal India Ltd.’s largest coal-producing subsidiaries, will develop 600 MW rooftop and ground-mounted solar power projects in the coming years as part of its strategy to expand and diversify its business and achieve the “Net Zero Energy” goal. The strategy is consistent with the larger goal of “Panchamrit,” as announced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at CoP-26, of achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2070. SECL, a Miniratna PSU, intends to develop the aforementioned projects at a cost of more than Rs. 1000 crore. Some of these projects would be carried out in the RESCO (Renewable Energy Service Company) or BOO (Build-Own-Operate) model.
More than 180 MW of solar power projects are already in various stages of development in SECL’s operational areas in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. It has recently completed rooftop solar projects with a capacity of 580 kWp in the Johilla, Jamuna-Kotma, and Kusmunda areas.
The commissioned capacity at Johilla Area is approximately 280 kWp, making it the company’s highest capacity rooftop solar project. Solar panels have been installed at the GM office in the Administrative Building, the Kendriya Vidyalaya run by the SECL, the Regional Hospital and the Area Guesthouse. The project will generate approximately 4, 20,000 units of electricity, saving approximately Rs 21 lakh in annual power expenditure.
The two largest solar projects under construction each have a capacity of 40 MW. On the company’s own land in the Bhatgaon and Bishrampur areas of Chattisgarh’s Surajpur district, a 40 MW ground-mounted, grid-connected solar PV plant is being developed. The project is in the execution phase and will most likely be completed this fiscal year.
The management is also preparing a project report for the construction of another 40 MW ground-mounted solar PV plant in Madhya Pradesh’s Johilla district. SECL has also issued a tender for a 4 MW rooftop solar project, and the feasibility of installing a floating solar power plant at Sharda OC Mine in the Sohagpur Area of Madhya Pradesh is being explored.
Coal India Ltd. has set an ambitious goal of becoming net-zero by 2026 by installing 3000 MW of renewable energy projects as part of a larger plan to reduce the company’s carbon footprint and transition to a more sustainable future. Coal India recently partnered with Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) to investigate potential sites for pumped storage power (PSP) projects within its abandoned mines.
SECL contributed roughly one-fourth of CIL’s total coal production in fiscal year 2022-23. It promotes renewable energy in order to reduce the carbon footprint of coal mining and achieve net zero carbon emissions. The company is attempting to balance its power needs with the power generated by the aforementioned projects.
