The Ministry of Shipping said it is installing solar and wind based power systems at all the Major Ports across the country. It aims to set up 90.64 MW of Solar Energy Capacity at twelve Major Ports and 70 MW of Wind Energy Capacity at four Major Ports by 2017.
These major ports have started the process of setting-up the renewable energy projects from their profit earnings, the ministry said.
The total financial cost of the solar projects will be Rs 407.7 crores.
The wind energy projects will be executed in three Major Ports namely Kandla, V.O. Chidambaranar Port and Kamarajar Port. The total MW capacity of the wind energy projects is estimated to be 70 MW.
SOLAR
A total of 6.94 MW of solar projects has already been commissioned with Vishakhapatnam Port leading the way with 6.25 MW. The other ports in which solar projects have been commissioned are Kolkata Port, New Manglore Port, V.O. Chidambaranar Port & Mumbai Port.
The remaining solar power projects will be commissioned phase wise and is expected to be completed by 2017.
These projects are a part of the Green Port Initiative launched by the Ministry of Shipping.
These renewable energy projects will help in the reduction of carbon emission and will lead to improvement of the environment around the ports, the government said, adding that they will also help to reduce cost of power purchased by utilization of renewable energy for power generations.