NTPC Set to Kick-off Faridabad Solar Power Project by August 2013

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources India (Delhi, India)--NTPC Limited (BSE:532555) (New Delhi, India), India's state-owned power company, is set to commence work for its proposed 5-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic power project near the company's existing natural gas-based power plant at Faridabad.

The foundation stone for the solar photo-voltaic plant was laid on July 9, 2013 at village Jhajru. The actual construction for the polycrystalline silicon module-based solar photovoltaic (SPV) plant is slated to start by the end of August 2013. To be powered with a total of 21,000 single-axis solar panels manufactured by EMMVEE Solar Systems Private Limited (Bangalore, India), the project would be executed by EverSun Energy Private Limited (Chennai, Tamil Nadu) on a turn-key basis. NTPC, in April 2011, signed a power purchase agreement with the state government's Grid Corporation of Orissa (Gridco) for the sale of power from the project.

The plant will generate 7.44 million units of electricity annually, equivalent to the power requirement of approximately 6,000 households. Besides, the project will help reduce generation of carbon dioxide by about 6,800 tons annually. The 430-MW natural gas-based power plant at the Faridabad is in operation since 1999.

The power major has drawn up an ambitious green power program during the ongoing 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-17). To start with, NTPC is setting up 50 MW of new solar power plants at its existing coal-fired power stations in Anta, Ramagundam, Unchahar, Talcher and Faridabad. NTPC has already commissioned one 5 MW solar PV project each at Dadri power station and Port Blair.

The company has set a target of developing 900 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2017, using resources such as wind, hydro, solar (photovoltaic and thermal) and biomass, entailing investments of about $1.3 billion.

The state-utility intends to add about 301 MW of solar power by March 2014 to its existing base, of which 190 MW will be harnessed through solar thermal technology, while the remaining 111 MW will be PV-based capacity.

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