Tuesday, February 18, 2014: The Welspun Group has shown keen interest in participating in the government’s program for setting up 4,000 MW solar ultra mega power projects in India. The government has already begun the groundwork on the first UMPP in Rajasthan and inviting tenders for the first phase of the project for developing of 1,000 MW are coming soon.
Vineet Mittal, Welspun Energy’s managing director told the PTI in Mumbai, that “as a clean energy development company, we are always looking at opportunities to set up solar and wind projects in the country. The government’s recent programme of setting up solar UMPPs gives us an opportunity to expand our capacities and become a leading clean energy developer.”
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has initiated a plan to set up 4,000 MW solar ultra mega power projects (UMPP). The ministry has identified Rajasthan, Gujarat, Ladakh and Kargil as key regions for these projects. The plan is part of government’s target of 20,000 MW of solar capacity by the year 2020. The joint venture of 6 PSUs that include BHEL, Solar Energy Corporation, Power Grid Corporation, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam, Hindustan Salts Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments (REIL), was made to execute this project on engineering procurement and construction (EPC) basis.
The inviting tenders for the first phase of the project for developing of 1000 MW are coming soon.
However, for the remaining 3000 MW, the government plans to invite bids for developing plants of 500 MW each. The developers will have to completely construct and maintain these 500 MW plant units.
The $4 billion Welspun has bid for the 1000MW project and keenly plans to develop solar projects in the country. They are said to reach a capacity of 320 MW by December. Currently, the company has 150 MW of projects across various states including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. The company had earlier set a target of developing 1,000 MW of wind and 750 MW of solar power projects, but has now updated the same to 1,000 mw of solar and 750 mw of wind power.
