Nagaland DISCOM secures power at Rs 5.06/kWh from bamboo biomass

Hutah Industries, a company engaged in producing power from biomass, recently entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Department of Power in Nagaland. The agreement pertains to a bamboo biomass project generating 10 MW of power. This project is located at the AK Industrial Village in Dimapur, Nagaland. It's important to note that the project will follow a build, own, and operate framework. The proposed project is set to cover an expanse of 1,500 acres of land, which has been obtained through a 25-year long-term lease. This land will serve as the site for the bamboo power project at the AK Industrial Village. The responsibility for executing the project rests with Hutah Industries, and they plan to adopt a turnkey approach, encompassing engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC). The determined tariff for the electricity generated by this project is Rs 5.06 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). This rate will remain applicable throughout the 25-year duration of the power purchase agreement. According to the terms of the agreement, the project needs to be operational within two years from the date of signing the PPA. As part of the arrangement, the Department of Power in Nagaland will oversee the establishment of an evacuation line from the factory to the Ganesh Anagar 33 kV substation. The costs associated with this line will be covered by the company, and the payment will be made 18 months before the project's commissioning. The chosen crop for this endeavour is Beema bamboo, a variety developed through tissue culture by an Indian scientist named N Barati. The core of the project involves the integration of a technology-driven platform. This platform will manage and monitor various stages, spanning from the initial sowing to the eventual harvest of bamboo. A crucial aspect of the project is effective inventory and logistics management. This will be closely intertwined with an agricultural drone-based monitoring system, designed to optimise bamboo estate operations within the challenging terrain of hilly areas. Furthermore, an emission reduction purchase agreement (EPRA) has been established to facilitate the trading of carbon credits.This agreement has been formed with EKI Energy and spans a decade. The listing process for this agreement is presently in progress. Also read: ADB funds Rs 1.2 billion loan for Fourth Partner Energy Kerala power minister adopts alternative smart metre model