- Kick starts India’s solar journey by commissioning the first 5 MW solar farm
Moser Baer Clean Energy Limited (MBCEL), a subsidiary of Moser Baer Projects Private Limited (MBPPL) has commissioned the country’s largest and the first 5 MW solar farm at Sivaganga in Tamil Nadu. The technical expertise for commissioning was provided by the EPC (Engineering Procurement Commissioning) arm of Moser Baer Solar Limited. The International Finance Corporation and the IDBI bank has provided debt for the project.
The solar farm has been commissioned using amorphous silicon Thin Film technology which is best suited for the Indian climatic conditions and is connected to the 110 KVA local grid. The project had been awarded by the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) and is being implemented under the Generation Based Incentive scheme of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India. The project awarded on the basis of a global bid is the first of its kind in the solar farm category to be commissioned in India under the phase 1 of the National Solar Mission.
Speaking about this major achievement, Ratul Puri, Director, Moser Baer Projects Private Limited, said:
“The successful commissioning of the first of its kind of solar farm at Sivaganga vindicates our deep rooted beliefs in our innate capabilities to commission large scale solar farms. As per official estimates, India receives solar radiation of about 5000 Trillion Kwh/Yr. This equates to 4-7 kWh/sqm/yr which is more than India’s total energy consumption (848 billion Kwhr – as projected by CEA). It is evident that India has immense potential and we need to ramp up rapidly in the right direction.”
Citing a report of CIBC Oppenheimer (a leading investment bank in Canada) Ratul stressed that around 85% of India's aggregate economic demand is domestically driven and to power this requirement many more large solar farms have to be commissioned on fast track. The panels installed at Sivaganga Project were procured from Moser Baer Solar Limited, which is today one of the top players in the global solar market. These panels were used as they are best suited in ramping up grid connected solar farms in high ambient temperature region like India.
According to Rajya Ghei, Country Head of MBCEL, “This successful commissioning by MBCEL reaffirms its position as the leading solar farm developer in the country. We have used our global experience to meet the local requirements according to the global standards.”
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About MBCEL:
Moser Baer Clean Energy Limited (MBCEL) was established in 2008 with a strategy to undertake development of renewable power projects worldwide. MBCEL is a project developer, owner and operator of solar power projects globally. It is currently India’s largest solar power development company with a presence in key international markets. MBCEL has ~ 50o MWp under development across multiple states in India and a project portfolio of over 200 MWp in Europe to be developed by 2012. Website http://www.moserbaerprojects.com/solarpower-overview.asp
About Moser Baer Projects Private Limited:
Based out of New Delhi, MBPPL is engaged in the development of power assets using conventional and non- conventional sources of energy. The company is currently developing over 4000 MW of coal based thermal power capacity. It has a pipeline of 500 MW each in the solar and hydro segments. Its most advanced thermal power plant is based in Madhya Pradesh and has already achieved financial closure and acquired fuel linkage. It has multiple solar projects in advanced stages of construction in India, while its first solar project outside India was completed in December, 2009 in Nordendorf, Germany. Website http://www.moserbaerprojects.com