The government has given permission to as many as 30 promoters to conduct survey for the generation of 180 MW solar energy in different part of the country.

The government has given special emphasis on development and expansion of solar energy in recent years. Nepal Electricity Authority is in the process of signing Power Purchase Agreement with promoters, who have been making preparations to install solar panels with total capacity of producing 61 MW electricity, within a few days.

The Department of Electricity Development under the Ministry of Energy has given permission to 50 MW Manungadanda Solar Plant for survey in Tanahun.

Similarly, permission has been given to install two solar systems with capacity of eight MW each at Charghare and 3.5 MW solar system in Bidur, Nuwakot.

Likewise, Api Power Company has been permitted to conduct survey for installation solar plants with combined capacity of 20 MW at six different places of the country.

Information Officer at the department, Senior Divisional Engineer Baburaj Adhikari, said permission for survey had been given for production of four megawatts power in Lahan, four megawatts in Hetauda, eight megawatts in Duhabi and three megawatts in Lamahi.

The DoED has already given permission to conduct survey for 30 solar power projects with combined capacity of 180 megawatts.

NEA spokesperson Prabal Adhikari said preparations were being made to sign PPA with solar power developers for 61 megawatts power in the fiscal 2017/18. NEA is going to sign PPA with 21 solar power developers within a few days.

NEA is preparing to generate solar energy to end load-shedding in line with the Energy Crisis Abatement Action Plan. It is signing PPA with the solar power developers based on the basic rate that has been set for purchasing solar power.

Special emphasis has been given to develop solar energy to meet the government’s ambitious goal of producing 17,000 megawatts electricity within 17 years as part of ‘Bright Nepal Campaign’.