Indian Army's Western Command will source 25 MW solar power from NTPC; Arctech to supply locally produced trackers for 261 MW Rajasthan solar project; TPREL to build 100 MW captive solar plant for steel maker Viraj; Saatvik to associate with PV Cycle; Mercom says MSEDCL's phase VIII solar auction concludes.
Solar power for Army's Western Command: The Indian Army's Western Command has entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the national utility NTPC to procure solar power directly from the national grid for 27 years. It plans to source power from 25 MW solar PV capacity from Sholapur in Maharashtra. According to a statement by the Command, reported by local media, it expects use of solar power under the agreement as helping decarbonize up to 38% of its energy portfolio. It will also wean its operations from 'archaic coal-based thermal energy being provisioned so far, that too at a higher tariff rate'.
Arctech's 261 MW project in India: Chinese solar tracker maker Arctech has secured a large order in India to supply its trackers for a 261 MW solar PV power plant in India's Rajasthan. The project is coming up in Devikot region and will use Arctech's CITIC Bo Skyline II tracking bracket system. Trackers for this project will be produced by Jash Energy, Arctech's manufacturing joint venture (JV) in India that recently opened the company's 3 GW annual production facility in Mundra, Gujarat (see Arctech Solar Sets Up Manufacturing Fab In India).
100 MW captive PV plant for steel maker: A Tata Power subsidiary Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL) will build a 100 MW captive solar power plant for stainless steel manufacturer Viraj Profile Private Limited. The project will be developed at Nandgaon in Maharashtra's Nasik and will supply power to Viraj's Tarapur plant. Around 200 million units of clean energy generated by the plant will bring down Viraj's dependence on non-renewable power sources by close to 50% once it comes online by July 2023. TPREL said this project will make Viraj one of the 1st stainless steel long products manufacturing companies in India to use solar energy for its manufacturing plants. Project will be undertaken by a TPREL special purpose vehicle (SPV) TP Nanded Limited to carry out construction, operation and maintenance of the solar plant and will be owned by Tata Power and Viraj Profile in 74:26 ratio.
Saatvik enters agreement with PV Cycle: Solar PV module manufacturer Saatvik Group has entered an agreement with Belgium's PV Cycle to treat the waste of its panels globally. A PV Cycle certification, it stated, will promote and safeguard the environment and will contribute to a sustainable PV waste management system. It has now got the company's mono PERC, bifacial and polycrystalline solar PV modules certified by the PV Cycle. The Belgian waste management organization helps collect, ship, recycle and treat PV panels and other waste flows offering customized solutions and legal compliance services for its members.
MSEDCL's 500 MW phase VIII auction results: The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) has adjudged NTPC Renewable Energy and Avaada Energy have won 500 MW solar PV capacity under its 500 MW grid connected phase VIII auction. Mercom India Research says NTPC Renewable Energy won 200 MW for INR 2.82 ($0.0354) per kWh and Avaada secured 300 MW capacity for INR 2.83 ($0.0355) per kWh. In the phase VII auction of the MSEDCL, also for 500 MW solar, SJVN and Juniper each quoted INR 2.90 per kWh as the lowest winning bid (see India PV News Snippets).