juwi India Renewable Energies Pvt. Ltd. a subsidiary of German renewable energy project developer juwi Group has begun this week construction on a 39 MW solar PV plant in the southern Indian federal state of Tamil Nadu.
The project, once completed, will bring the juwi Groups total PV portfolio in Asia to more than 400 MW all developed since the company began operations in the region in 2011. In India alone, juwi Group will soon have 146 MW of solar PV capacity.
The 250,000 square meter site is located close to the village of Samudram, and was carefully identified by juwi India Renewable Energies for its suitability as a solar site: the land is unsuitable for agricultural use due to its poor soil conditions, while its southern location basks under clear blue skies and high levels of solar irradiation for most of the year.
"Because of the quality of the modules and the strong irradiation at this location, we expect an annual electricity production of almost 64 million kWh,"said juwi India MD Rajesh Bhat. "Carbon-free PV power can already compete in terms of cost with climate-damaging electricity from coal or other fossil fuels."
juwi India will use polycrystalline solar modules mounted on fixed racks for the 39 MW project, which also has a state-backed guaranteed 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) secured, ensuring economic security for the developer.
Early projections are that the solar plant will offset more than 16,400 tons of carbon dioxide a year, adding to Indias national target to ramp up its decarbonization process and generate 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2022. Solar PVs goal is 100 GW by that date, and juwi is confident that it can lend a helping hand towards that goal.
"Around the globe the demand for cost-effective solar energy is increasing," said juwis regional director for Asia Pacific Amiram Roth-Deblon. "This is especially true for Asia and India." Roth-Deblon added that juwi has a "well-filled" Asia project pipeline for the upcoming years.
The developer recently began construction on a 25 MW solar PV plant in Japan and late last year expanded its growing Asia Pacific footprint into the emerging market of the Philippines, where it has acted as EPC on a 6.25 MW solar plant.
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