Indian hydropower utility SJVN Limited has granted a Letter of Award (LOA) for the development of what it terms as India's 'largest' solar EPC project of 1 GW AC capacity, to Tata Power Solar Systems Limited.
The utility had secured development rights of this ground mounted project under an auction conducted by the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) under CPSU Scheme (see India PV News Snippets).
Tata Power Solar will construct this capacity in Bikaner, Rajasthan, providing end-to-end delivery of the commissioned solar power plant to SJVN, including power evacuation infrastructure to the interstate transmission system (ISTS) substation along with operation and maintenance (O&M) of the same for a period of 3 years post commissioning.
The EPC contractor will also be expected to arrange land on outright purchase basis.
SJVN expects the composite construction/development cost of the 1 GW AC capacity as INR 54.9 billion ($72 million) with commissioning scheduled for May 2024. For a period of 25 years, the project is expected to reduce 27,85,077,680 kg of CO2 emissions, it stated.
SJVN says the project will help it realize its renewable energy portfolio target of 5 GW by 2023, which it aims to expand to 25 GW by 2030 and to 50 GW by 2040.