India's Maharashtra state to undertake 500 MW solar project

The Indian government of Maharashtra is planning to set up a 500-MW solar park in Dhule district in a move to strengthen its renewable energy segment.

The solar project is planned to be structured in two phases of 250 MW each. This solar phases will be constructed on two adjacent areas of 1,000-acre (4.5-ha) site in Dhule district.

The site was initally proposed for the development of a thermal power plant, but the Maharashtra government finally decided to undertake the photovoltaic project.

Arvind Singh, principal secretary of Energy, Maharashtra said: 

“The entire investment in the park will come from private parties and we will be calling for bids sometime in the next quarter.

“There are two more private players who are looking to set up solar power plants in Maharashtra.”

As we reported in late June, the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO) launched an expression of interest (EoI) for the development of of up to 2 GW of new solar power capacity across Maharashtra.

MAHAGENCO intended to develop 500 MW Solar Park at Dondaicha, in Dhule district, and 1500 MW Solarization of Agriculture feeder by constructing solar projects of 2MW-50MW capacity.

The proposed 500-MW solar park will be set up in an association with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), also based on PPP. MahaGenco acquired 500 hectares of land and worked out a water supply scheme for the solar park. The developer will set up the project, operate it, and supply nearly 20 per cent power to the state-run Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MahaVitaran).

In regard with the 1500 MW Solarization of Agriculture feeder project, the government will provide the land and make available the evacuation facility. The objective is to supply uninterrupted power generated from these solar projects to farmers on the field.

We have lately informed about other solar projects in India:

• 50 MW solar PV project in Uttar Pradesh
• 80 MW solar PV project in the state of Gujarat
• 50 MW rooftop solar PV project in India
• 250 MW solar project in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh (Solenergie Power)
• 250 MW Mandsaur solar project in Madhya Pradesh
• 20 MW PV solar plant in Odisha
• 2.67 MW solar carport project in Kerala