May 12, 2015: Vikram Solar has announced that it has successfully commissioned a 40MW solar plant for IL&FS Energy Development Company Limited (IEDCL). Vikram has also won a ten-year O&M (operations and maintenance) contract for the installation.
The project was awarded to IL&FS Energy Development Company Ltd by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) as part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) Phase-II, Batch-I scheme run by the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The plant is located in Madhya Pradesh and was installed within six months in two phases of 20 MW each.
Gyanesh Chaudhary, CEO and Managing Director of Vikram Solar, explains: “Vikram Solar is very proud to have been entrusted with this project. Recognising the potential of this prestigious scheme, Vikram Solar focussed its expertise to meet the challenge of completing both phases within the given deadline of six months. This plant is therefore one of the flagship projects under the JNNSM Phase-2 scheme.”
Sunil Wadhwa, Managing Director of IL&FS Energy, stated: “We are pleased to join hands with Vikram Solar for this prestigious project, which will set a benchmark in the country in terms of its design and execution standards.”
The plant is built using VikramSolar’s high-efficiency Eldora 250 polycrystalline PV modules spread over 260 acres of land. It is connected to a 132 kV transmission line. Vikram Solar was responsible for the design, engineering, procurement, supply, construction, erection and commissioning. Connected to the national grid, the solar power plant is expected to generate an average of 79,200,000 kWh in its first full year of operation.
Sunil Rathi, President (Sales) of Vikram Solar, stated: “We use modules that are manufactured in Falta, West Bengal using PV cells made exclusively in India. We rely on products made in India in order to promote local production of solar components, and this was also the case for the cells and modules mandated by SECI in JNNSM Phase-2.”
Keshav Prasad, Head of Solar for IL&FS Energy, adds: “We believe that Vikram Solar, with its expertise in domestic solar module manufacturing and experience in setting up utility-scale solar projects, was the best choice for this project, and we hope to work together again in future.”
