Test production of 10MW solar power project begins in Jhapa

By Our Correspondent,Damak, Dec. 30: The testing of commercial solar energy production has been started for the first time in Jhapa. Jhapa Energy Company Limited has started testing a 10 MW solar project since Tuesday evening. Around 17.61 million units of electricity will be generated from the project annually.

Narayan Prasad Pokharel, programme officer of the company, said that the energy produced from the project located in Shivasatakshi Municipality-4 was connected to the Bulochowk substation of the Nepal Electricity Authority before the testing began.

He said that the test production of electricity would continue for 15 days before commercial production begins. The Nepal Electricity Authority will purchase electricity produced by this project according to the agreement.

The agreement for the purchase of power has already been signed between Nepal Electricity Authority and Jhapa Energy. It has been informed that the power purchase agreement has been made with the NEA at the rate of Rs. 7.30 per unit.

According to Jhapa Energy, the agreement for the purchase of electricity was inked on November 28, 2021. The project has been brought into operation with an investment of Rs. 810 million, with 75 per cent of the investment from the Machhapuchchre Bank and Civil Bank and 25 per cent from the people.

To connect the generated solar power to the national transmission line, Jhapa Energy itself has built a 960-meter transmission line, Pokharel said.

The Jhapa people living in various areas, including Kathmandu and abroad have worked collectively on some projects and this project has been successful, said LP Sanwa Limbu, Member of the House of Representatives. Limbu had led the construction of the solar project.