BHEL bags Rs 169 cr order for 30 MW solar power plants in West Bengal

West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Corporation Limited (WBSEDCL) has awarded a contract worth Rs 169 crore to Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) for setting up 30 MW (3x10 MW) of solar photovoltaic (SPV) power plants on engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis. The SPV plants of 10 MW each are to be set up at Mejia (Bankura), Santaldih (Purulia) and Chharrah (Purulia) in West Bengal. 

Earlier this year, BHEL bagged EPC orders from Neyveli Lignite Corporation and Bharat Electronics Limited for setting up of a 65 MW SPV power plant at Neyveli (Tamil Nadu) and a 15 MW SPV power plant at Ordinance Factory Premises, Medak (Telangana) which are currently under execution. 

In the previous year also, BHEL bagged EPC orders from NTPC for 50 MW solar power plants each at Ananthpur (AP) and Mandsaur (MP). While the Ananthpur project has been commissioned, the Mandsaur project is currently under execution. BHEL manufactures solar cells and modules at its electronics division unit in Bengaluru, while space-grade solar panels using high efficiency cells and space-grade battery panels are manufactured at its electronic systems division, also in Bengaluru. 

BHEL’s solar business is backed by a dedicated R&D team at the company’s Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell Plant (ASSCP) in Gurugram. BHEL offers EPC solutions for both off-grid and grid-interactive solar PV power plants and has set up solar plants in various locations in India including the Lakshadweep Islands for island electrification.