Maharashtra Clears 100 MW Hybrid Power Project

12 Aug 2025 CW Team

Combining 20 MW of hydroelectric power with 80 MW of floating solar capacity, the project is expected to generate around 208 million units of electricity annually. With this clearance, construction can now commence.

Completed in 2014, the Middle Vaitarna Dam in Kochale village stands 102.4 metres high and stretches 565 metres in length, supplying 455 million litres of water daily—about 11 per cent of Mumbai’s total requirement. With a total storage capacity of 193 billion litres, the dam was originally constructed with a dedicated outlet pipeline to enable both water supply and future hydropower generation.

In 2019, the State Water Resources Department approved the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) plan for a hydroelectric facility at the site. Consultants later proposed integrating floating solar power, adopting a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model.

Following a tender process in February 2021, the contract was awarded to a joint venture between Shapoorji Pallonji & Company and Mahalaxmi Konal Urja Pvt Ltd. The partners established Vaitarna Solar Hydro Power Genco Pvt Ltd (VSHPPL) as the project’s special purpose vehicle.

Under a 25-year agreement, BMC will purchase electricity at a fixed rate of Rs 4.75 per unit without incurring any capital expenditure. The first phase will include a 20 MW hydroelectric plant and a 6.5 MW (AC) floating solar installation, expected to produce about 78.13 million units annually, saving approximately Rs 12.6 million each year in power costs at the Pise-Panjrapur water treatment facility.

Electricity will be transmitted through the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd’s (MSETCL) grid under the Open Access Policy, supported by a new 13 km transmission line linking Middle Vaitarna Dam to Igatpuri in Nashik district.

The project timeline is set at 31 months, including a 7-month financial closure period and a 24-month construction phase, excluding the monsoon season.

The Maharashtra government has approved the diversion of 4.90 hectares of reserved forest land for the development of a 100 MW hybrid renewable energy project at the Middle Vaitarna Dam in Palghar district.Combining 20 MW of hydroelectric power with 80 MW of floating solar capacity, the project is expected to generate around 208 million units of electricity annually. With this clearance, construction can now commence.Completed in 2014, the Middle Vaitarna Dam in Kochale village stands 102.4 metres high and stretches 565 metres in length, supplying 455 million litres of water daily—about 11 per cent of Mumbai’s total requirement. With a total storage capacity of 193 billion litres, the dam was originally constructed with a dedicated outlet pipeline to enable both water supply and future hydropower generation.In 2019, the State Water Resources Department approved the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) plan for a hydroelectric facility at the site. Consultants later proposed integrating floating solar power, adopting a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model.Following a tender process in February 2021, the contract was awarded to a joint venture between Shapoorji Pallonji & Company and Mahalaxmi Konal Urja Pvt Ltd. The partners established Vaitarna Solar Hydro Power Genco Pvt Ltd (VSHPPL) as the project’s special purpose vehicle.Under a 25-year agreement, BMC will purchase electricity at a fixed rate of Rs 4.75 per unit without incurring any capital expenditure. The first phase will include a 20 MW hydroelectric plant and a 6.5 MW (AC) floating solar installation, expected to produce about 78.13 million units annually, saving approximately Rs 12.6 million each year in power costs at the Pise-Panjrapur water treatment facility.Electricity will be transmitted through the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd’s (MSETCL) grid under the Open Access Policy, supported by a new 13 km transmission line linking Middle Vaitarna Dam to Igatpuri in Nashik district.The project timeline is set at 31 months, including a 7-month financial closure period and a 24-month construction phase, excluding the monsoon season.

Infrastructure Energy

14 Oct 2025

Mizoram To Build Rs 139 Billion Pumped Storage Power Plant

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Friday announced plans to construct a 2,400 MW pumped storage hydroelectric power plant in Hnahthial district, marking a major step towards achieving energy self-sufficiency in the state. Addressing the Mizo Students’ Union general conference in Hnahthial town, the Chief Minister said the plant would be developed across the Darzo Nallah, a tributary of the Tuipui river. Once operational, the project is expected to play a pivotal role in meeting Mizoram’s rising electricity demand and reducing dependence on imported power. Officials from the State Power..

Infrastructure Energy

14 Oct 2025

Centre Plans Nationwide Opening Of Power Retail Market

India is preparing to open up its retail electricity market to private companies nationwide, effectively ending the long-standing monopoly of state-run power distributors in most regions, according to a draft bill released by the Union Power Ministry on Friday. The move will enable major private sector players — including Adani Enterprises, Tata Power, Torrent Power, and CESC — to expand their presence across the country’s electricity distribution landscape. A similar reform attempt in 2022 had faced strong opposition from state-run distribution companies (discoms), which currently dom..

Infrastructure Energy

14 Oct 2025

CEA Sets 100 GW Nuclear Target For India By 2047

In a landmark step marking its 52nd Foundation Day, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) unveiled an ambitious roadmap to develop 100 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity by 2047, aligning with India’s long-term Net-Zero commitment and energy security objectives. The event, held at the Central Water Commission auditorium in New Delhi’s R.K. Puram, was attended by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, who served as the Chief Guest. The roadmap sets out a detailed plan to expand India’s nuclear capacity from its current level of approximately 8,180 MW as of early 2025, outl..