Solar energy project to come up in Neemuch

Acres and acres of barren land in Neemuch district of MP are steadily being transformed into rows of gleaming solar modules. Once the project gets completed, close to 1,000 acres of barren and rocky terrain will be transformed into the largest solar power generating hub in the country.

Welspun Solar Madhya Pradesh Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Welspun Energy Ltd, is commissioning the 151 MW solar project in village Bhagwanpura of Neemuch district, about 250 km from Indore.

“The plant will start generating 130 MW power by August 15. It’s the largest capacity presently under execution in a single location, both in India as well as Asia,” principal secretary, state new and renewable energy department, SR Mohanty told HT.

Once operational, the project will be instrumental in making western region of Madhya Pradesh one of the most important centres for renewable energy sources in the country. Welspun Energy has also constructed the largest PV solar power project till date with a capacity of 50 MW in Rajasthan. THOUSANDS OF solar PV (photovoltaic) modules generate DC current which is then converted into AC current and supplied to the grid. The whole process is computerised and is designed to make maximum use of the sun’s energy. The project activity generates clean energy and hence displaces the greenhouse gases that would have been emitted from the combustion of fossil fuels in the regional electricity grid power plants.

“The financial closure of the 151 MW project was the largest single deal in energy and infrastructure space and was 1.3 times over-subscribed. Longterm project financing for this project was secured through a consortium of banks led by the Central Bank of India,” company’s vice-president (business development) Paramita Sahoo said. The power tariff has been fixed at Rs 8.05 per unit.

On-ground work for the project is already in progress and the company aims to commission it in August 2013. Once fully commissioned, the Neemuch project will be feeding enough clean energy into the state grid to power 6,24,000 households. As many as 5 lakh solar modules will be erected once the project gets completed.

With MP giving a push to the new and renewable energy generation in the past few years, about 1,177 MW of solar projects are in various stages of implementation.