Project (Development) Round-Up/Review/Synopsis - India's Top Stories
Project (Development) Round-Up/Review/Synopsis - India's Top Stories
Project (Development) Round-Up/Review/Synopsis - India's Top Stories
Gujarat is one of the driest regions of Asia, but the abundance of solar power made this region one of the most
appealing of India. Among other projects the Charanka Solar Park saw the light, which is not so much an actual plant,
but more of a hub of plants. All projects in the area are commissioned by multiple developers, module manufacturers
and financial parties. All projects combined result in one of the largest conglomerations of solar power capacity,
which provides a good benchmark for the planned ultra-utility scale projects in India. With its size this is one of the
largest solar sites in the world. Power is sold to the state of Gujarat at a rate of approximately USD $0,10 per kWh.
The Neemuch Solar Plant is currently the flagship project of Welspun Power, as it is the largest commissioned solar
project in India at this moment. Breaking ground since 2012 the project was commissioned in Mid-2015. The project,
costing approximately $135 million USD, made global headlines in the PV sector by being financially backed by a
financial coalition of global players. The project is in a PPA with the state of Madhya Pradesh in which it sells its
electricity for approximately $0,1231 per kWh generated.
Currently the second single largest commissioned project in India located in state of Rajasthan, this solar plant is
generating electricity at a very competitive rate of $0.0833 per kWh produced. Under the Make in India initiative this
plant can boast that over 60% of the modules are locally manufactured. During the commissioning of this plant Azure
Power announced that it will start developing a 1.000 MW sized plant in the near future.
Commissioned in March 2012, this plant is part of a 6 GW Memorandum of Understanding between Reliance Power
and the state of Rajasthan. It is a noteworthy project, as it is the first private solar project that received a direct loan
sanction by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Initially starting out as a mere 5 MW plant, this solar power plant was the first project to be commissioned under
the National Solar Mission. Later Azure Power extended the plant with another 35 MW of solar capacity, resulting in
this 40 MW plant. As this plant was built before the Make in India initiative this plant is an example of cooperation
between a Indian project developer and a US-based manufacturer, as this plant uses primarily imported technology
for its activities.
Rays Power Experts is a fresh solar startup with already several commissioned solar plants under its supervision. This
solar plant is spun across 130 acres and houses 25 MW capacity for a collective of 16 developers. With the aim to
help smaller investors Rays Power Experts have a credible unique selling point with three of this kind of solar plants
to show for. Generating electricity at a tariff of $0,091 USD per kWh this plant is already starting to earn back its
investment.
Besides mining, commercial and agricultural applications solar power can also provide interesting energy solutions
for airports. Cochin International Airport is the first Indian airport to be grid-neutral, as it fully empowers its business
with its own solar plant with a capacity of 12 MW. This is a project development example that will see a lot of
recurrences, as other airports are also exploring self-generation solutions: Netaji Subas Chandra Bose International
Airport has already announced building a 2 MW solar plant.