Tata Power Solar bags NTPC’s solar power project

BANGALORE, INDIA: Tata Power Solar has announced that it has won 50 MW solar photovoltaic project from NTPC as part of their mandate to expand their renewable energy portfolio to 1,000MW by 2017.

The new 50MW project, at Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh, will double NTPC's solar capacity, said a press release.

Ajay Goel, CEO, Tata Power Solar said: "We are proud to be partnering with NTPC on this 50MW solar project to bring much needed peak power to Madhya Pradesh. This project brings together two of our core strengths in solar- market leading solar module manufacturing and, competitive, high-quality engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) capability."

Tata solar further added, once commissioned in March 2014, the project is expected to generate 78.66 million units (Kwh) of energy each year for MP Power Trading Company Ltd. for a state that runs annual peak deficit of 9.6 per cent (per CEA, June 2013).

"NTPC plans to broad-base generation mix through conventional and nonconventional sources of energy to ensure long term competitiveness and mitigate fuel risk. We are committed to the principles of sustainable development encompassing the environment, the society and corporate governance", said A K Jha, director technical, NTPC.

NTPC, a government of India undertaking, claims that it is the largest power generation utility in India with a total capacity of more than 41GW under operation, mostly in coal and gas.

Since 2010, NTPC has been taking rapid strides towards deploying more solar energy - it has 10MW under operation and 35MW under construction to-date.