Russian solar project developer Solar Systems LLC is proceeding with the construction of a 15 MW PV power plant in Volodarsky, Astrakhan region, south-western Russia.
According to a press release from the regional government, the Zavodskaya SPS solar project is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of this year.
Solar Systems is a unit of China-based solar plant operator Amus Sirius, which is itself a subsidiary of Harbin Electric Company Limited, a Chinese provider of a comprehensive range of electric power generation equipment.
Solar Systems will install about 57,000 modules with a power rating of 260 W at the facility. Inverters for the project were delivered to the site in February, according to the company.
Solar Systems own and operate a 100 MW monocrystalline silicon solar panel factory in the special economic zone of industrial and production type “Alabuga” located in Yelabuga municipal district of the Republic of Tatarstan. Modules produced at the facility will be used for the company’s PV projects across Russia.
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Solar Systems is planning to install up to 255 MW of PV plants in the country by the end of 2019. The projects will be located in the Astrakhan region, Samara region, Stavropol Krai, Volgograd region and Republic Of Kalmykia.
In Russia, PV projects that rely on locally manufactured products receive considerably higher FITs than projects using imported PV components.
Overall, the government of the Astrakhan region has approved seven 15 MW PV projects to date. In August 2016, Russia-based Solar Energy was given the all clear to develop six 15 MW utility-scale solar power plants. These plants will be built on the territory of Volodarsky, Privolzhsky, Yenotayevsky and Narimanovsky, the regional government announced. The investment for the projects exceed 12 billion RUB ($204.2 million).
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Astrakhan region is a standard oblast. Many previous solar initiatives in Russia have been located in autonomous republics like Tatarstan, ethnic enclaves enjoying greater autonomy. The Astrakhan project may be a sign of an important trend. Perhaps Russia us finally signing up to the solar and wind revolution.