First project under Prime Minister’s Ladakh Renewable Energy Initiative commissioned

The Union New and Renewable Energy Ministry has commissioned 1.5 MW Small Hydro Power (SHP) Plant in Biaras Drass, Kargil area of Jammu & Kashmir. It is first project to be commissioned under Prime Minister’s Ladakh Renewable Energy Initiative.

Key Facts

The Biaras SHP project was developed by Kargil Renewable Energy Development Agency (KREDA) under Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC). It will power Drass town in Kargil, which is one of coldest places in India.
Power from it will be sufficient to meet normal power requirement of about 1000 families, which would make them comfortable in extreme winter season. Such projects will be able to replace use of diesel to great extent at least for about 8 months in year and reduce greenhouse emissions in region.

Prime Minister’s Ladakh Renewable Energy Initiative

It aims to minimize dependence on diesel in Ladakh region to meet power requirement by diverting to local renewable sources. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing project.
The approach is to meet power requirements through small/micro hydel and solar photovoltaic power projects and use solar thermal systems for water heating/space heating/cooking requirements. It also envisages setting up of 10 solar photovoltaic power plants in defence establishments.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2017