Date: 21/10/2010

BHEL wins contract to set up Grid-Interactive solar power plants in Lakshadweep

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) said it has won a major contract for setting up eco-friendly Grid-Interactive Solar Power Plants of 1100 kW capacity on turnkey basis, in the Lakshadweep islands.

Valued at around Rs.350 Million, the order for setting up the Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Power Plants at eight islands of Lakshadweep including the capital Kavaratti, has been placed on the company by Lakshadweep Administration. In addition, the order envisages renovation of existing solar power plants of 800 kW at these islands.

BHEL's scope of work in the contract envisages design, manufacture, supply and installation of new solar power plants of 1100 kW and renovation of existing solar power plants of 800 kW at various islands of Lakshadweep. While all the new plants will be set up by May, 2011, the renovation job will be completed progressively by February, 2012.

BHEL is presently executing another turnkey contract for setting up a 3 MW eco-friendly Grid-Interactive Solar Power Plant of capacity at Yapalaniddi village in Raichur District of North Karnataka for Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL).

As part of India's largest solar power-based Island electrification project in India, BHEL has commissioned a total of eleven Solar Power Plants in the Lakshadweep islands, adding over 1MW of Solar Power to the power generating capacity of the coral islands in the Arabian Sea. Notably, BHEL's Solar Power Plants cater to about 15% of the Union Territory's energy demand.

BHEL is playing a key role in India's industrial segment mainly electrical and in power electronics domain and the solar is priority area for long time.