Modi to inaugurate first phase of India’s largest solar power plant

Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi will dedicate India’s largest solar power project’s 5 MW first phase at north Guajrat’s Sabarkantha district’s Khadola village this Friday.

Azure Power, today, announced the commissioning of Phase I of its 10 MW solar photovoltaic plant in Gujarat, that has been set up at an investment of Rs 170 crore. Azure has entered into a 25 year long agreement with the apex state utility Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited.

Earlier in October 2010, Azure Power announced an investment in the Gujarat for development of the Khadoda Solar PV power plant. The investment of $40 million USD is led by Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), an agency of the United States Government that helps US businesses invest overseas and promotes economic development in new and emerging markets. Other investors in the project include IFC, a member of World Bank group, Helion Advisors, a venture capital firm based in Gurgaon, India and Foundation Capital, a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California.

-The facility spread over more than 60 acre land will satisfy electricity need of 150 villages through Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd.

-Rs. 170 crore Khadoda power plant has been constructed on Build-Operate-Transfer model.

-Azure will use solar passive concept which includes natural ventilation, passive cooling, and optimum use of day light.

-Power generated from this facility will be supplied to local community through sub-station.

-About 9,120 photo voltaic solar modules are used to convert sun light into electricity.

-The plant will immediately generate clean solar power annually enough to light 1,00,000 rural homes. This will replace carbon emissions of around 15,000 metric tonnes, an equivalent of removing 15,000 cars from Indian roads every year.

-With this solar power project in Gujarat, Azure Power completes investment of over Rs 300 crore in solar generation in the country.