Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) one of the largest power generation equipment manufacturers, has crossed the one GW mark in the solar photovoltaic portfolio. The company grabbed two major orders in the month of June 2019, with a cumulative capacity of 200 MW. Of the total portfolio of 1,000 MW , the company has commissioned 500 MW.

 

The EPC orders for setting up solar photovoltaic plants valued at Rs 800 crore have been secured from NTPC and the Gujarat State Electricity Corporation (GSECL). The NTPC’s scope of work envisages India's largest floating SPV plant of 100 MW capacity at NTPC Ramagundam in Telangana, while the GSECL order involves setting up 100 MW ground-mounted SPV plant at Raghanesda Ultra Mega Solar Park in Banaskantha district of Gujarat.

 

The company will manufacture space-grade solar panels using high efficiency cells and space-grade battery at its Electronics Systems Division in Bengaluru, Karnataka. 

 

BHEL’s recent achievement marks a positive leap in India’s renewable energy target. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy recently announced that the Central government has planned to set up 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030. The agenda is part of the government’s initiative to achieve 175 GW  renewable energy by 2022, of which 100 MW is for solar energy to be achieved by 2022.

 

As per the data compiled by Projects Today, a total of 526 solar projects will be set up across various states. These projects will see an investment to the tune of Rs 2,23,661 crore. Once completed, these projects will add 26,928 MW to the existing capacity. Of the total, 11,020.529 MW capacity will be generated through solar photovoltaic power entailing a total investment of Rs 90,535.77 crore. 

 

Of this, a major project is being executed by BHEL which involves setting up a solar photovoltaic power unit (Phase-I) near Sambhar Lake in Jaipur district of Rajasthan on EPC basis. The mega project worth Rs 6,000 crore will have a capacity to generate 1,000 MW solar energy. In future, the company plans to set up a total 4,000 MW solar photovoltaic power unit which will be implemented in phases. 

 

As per the data mapped by Projects Today, a total of 31 solar contracts valued at Rs 3,393 crore have been secured by BHEL, as of 26 June 2019. In 2019, BHEL secured three more orders in quick succession for setting up solar photovoltaic power plants totaling 135 MW in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

 

The orders cumulatively valued at Rs 520 crore have been secured from Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO), Gujarat State Electricity Corporation (GSECL) and Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and Chemicals (GNFC). 

 

BHEL is also associated with Maharashtra's renewable energy ventures with its solar photovoltaic modules being installed in solarisation of agricultural feeders. The company has picked up on its solar portfolio in the last three decades.

 

In terms of tenders, as per the data collated by Projects Today, till June 2019, a total of 26 solar project tenders worth Rs 366.63 crore are open for bidding. Of these a major tender worth Rs 188 crore has been floated by the Haryana Power Generation Corporation. The tender floated is for design, engineering, procurement & supply, construction, commissioning (PSCC) for setting up  grid-connected, ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant having 57 MW capacity at new ash dyke area, FTPS (Faridabad), 15 MW area near ash dyke DCRTPP and 12 MW at WYC hydel (Yamunanagar) in Haryana on BOT basis.

 

An increasing number of companies have set on the path towards achieving the target of 500 GW by 2030. Apart from BHEL other major players like NTPC has achieved 1.9 GW capacity of solar portfolio, Greenko Solar Energy has achieved one GW, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company has achieved one GW and Santhiram Ren-energy has also achieved one GW.