Indian prime minister inaugurates 750MW solar project – largest in Asia
INDIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday dedicated to the nation a 750MW solar project set up at Rewa city in Madhya Pradesh state’s northeast through video conferencing from Delhi.
The solar project is said to be the biggest in Asia.
The event was attended by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Power Minister RK Singh and several other ministers.
Addressing the event, Modi said that with this solar plant in Rewa, not only will industries in Madhya Pradesh get electricity, but even the metro rail in Delhi stand to benefit.
Apart from Rewa, work is underway on solar power plants in Shajapur, Neemuch and Chhatarpur, he said.
He stressed that solar energy will be the energy of choice for the 21st century because it is sure, pure and secure.
“Today, Rewa has really scripted history. Rewa is identified with the name of mother Narmada and the white tiger. Now, the name of Asia’s largest solar power project has also been added to it,” he said.
Congratulating the people of Rewa and Madhya Pradesh, Modi added: “This solar plant of Rewa will help in making this entire area a big centre of energy in this decade.”
He further reiterated his move to make India self-reliant. He said that as India moves towards new peaks of development and the demand for energy and electricity grows, “self-sufficiency in electricity is very important for a self-reliant India.
“When we talk about self-reliance and progress, the economy is an important aspect. Policymakers from all over the world have been in dilemma for years whether to think about the economy or environment,” Modi was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.
“As we are launching large projects of renewable energy, we are also making sure that our determination towards clean energy is seen in every aspect of life. We are hoping that its benefits reach every corner of the country, every section of society, every citizen,” he said.
He said the way India is utilising solar power is being discussed across the globe. “Keeping this expectation of the world and the humanity from India, we are engaged in connecting the whole world. The result of this thinking is ISA which is International Solar Alliance. This is the spirit behind one world, one sun, one grid,” he said.
The 40 billion rupee ($530 million) project has three units of 250MW each at a solar park spread over 1,500ha developed by Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Ltd (RUMSL), a joint venture company of Madhya Pradesh UrjaVikas Nigam Ltd and Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI), a Central Public Sector Undertaking.
Twenty-four per cent of the solar power produced by the project will be used in the Delhi Metro and the remaining 76 per cent by discoms – or electricity distribution companies – of Madhya Pradesh.
The government gave 1.38 billion rupees to RUMSL for the project for which Mahindra Renewables, ACME Solar Holdings, and Solengeri Power were s hor t l i s t e d through reverse bidding for the three units at tariffs of 2.979 rupees, 2.970 rupees and 2.974 rupees for the first year.
This is the lowest tariff ever discovered through a bidding process for solar projects in India.
The government has claimed that the 750MW ultra mega solar power plant will reduce emission equivalent to approximately 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
The Rewa Project also exemplifies India’s commitment to hit its target of 175GW of installed renewable energy capacity by the year 2022, including 100GW of solar-installed capacity.