Patna/ Jaisalmer: Bihar’s deputy chief minister, Samrat Choudhary, has urged the central government to extend greater support for the state’s renewable energy initiatives, highlighting challenges in land acquisition, funding, and project timelines. The appeal was made during a pre-budget consultation meeting with state finance ministers, held in Jaisalmer on 20 December.
A 32-page memorandum submitted to union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman outlines Bihar’s plans and requirements for advancing solar, nuclear, and other renewable energy projects.
Solar parks: call for flexibility
The memorandum requests the central government to lower the minimum capacity requirement for solar parks from 500 MW to 50–100 MW. Bihar’s deputy CM noted that acquiring large tracts of land for solar projects is particularly challenging in the state. Smaller parks, he argued, would still align with central funding criteria under existing schemes. Bihar is currently planning four solar parks and has also requested an extension of the solar park scheme’s timeline to 2028.
The memorandum also urges nationalized banks to provide soft loans at lower interest rates to encourage investment in solar energy.
Floating solar plants: leveraging Bihar’s wetlands
With significant low-lying areas in northern Bihar, prone to waterlogging and flooding, the state is exploring floating solar power plants as a viable solution. Two such plants have already been installed—one in Darbhanga (1.6 MWp) and another in Supaul (0.525 MWp).
The memorandum calls for viability gap funding to offset the high costs of constructing floating solar plants. Floating structures are essential in areas where land is scarce or prohibitively expensive, the deputy CM explained, but they also make electricity generation costlier.
Pumped storage plants and renewable energy institutes
The state has also sought viability gap funding for Pumped Storage Plants (PSPs), which require substantial initial investment but are critical for stabilizing renewable energy supplies.
Additionally, the memorandum requests the establishment of a renewable energy institute in Bihar to drive research, training, and innovation in clean energy.
Modernizing power distribution
Bihar is seeking approval for a ₹6,739.93 crore modernization project under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). The proposal includes ₹3,352.68 crore for the North Bihar Power Distribution Company and ₹3,387.25 crore for the South Bihar Power Distribution Company.
Nuclear energy: a push for small modular reactors
The memorandum also proposes setting up a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) for nuclear energy in Bihar, with potential sites identified in Nawada or Banka districts. This would enhance the state’s nuclear energy capacity and provide a clean, reliable power source.
