Mahanadi Coalfields to set up 50 MW solar facility at Rs 302 cr

Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) will install a 50 MW solar power facility in Odisha's Sambalpur district for Rs 301.92 crore as part of its aim to attain carbon neutrality by 2024. On Saturday, Mahanadi Coalfields told the media that this plant will decrease carbon dioxide emission by 91,020 tonnes per annum and carbon offsets of approximately 24,824 tonnes per annum. The Sambalpur-headquartered MCL has placed an order with a Chennai-based company, which will set up this green energy project within 10 months. The facility will cater to the captive power need of the MCL, which had earlier installed a 2-MW solar power plant in Sambalpur in 2014. The MCL aims to establish 182 MW of solar power by 2024 to become a net-zero energy firm, aligning itself to utilise cleaner forms of energy for coal generation. The subsidiary of Coal India had earlier launched environment-friendly surface miner technology, which provides over 95% in coal generation. As another environment-friendly move, the firm has successfully commissioned vertical rippers for blast-less overburden removal in Hingula and Kaniha opencast projects. Image Source Also read: Mahanadi Coalfields invites bids for O&M of 2 MW solar project Also read: NTPC in talks to rescue 3,600 MW Mahanadi power plant