GE Energy Connections, the inverter division of global digital industrial firm General Electric (GE), has today announced it has signed a 140 MW inverter supply deal with Solairedirect, the solar development arm of French utility Engie, for a couple of PV projects in India.
The contract agreement will see GE ship its LV5 1 MW central inverter solutions to two 70 MW PV projects in India under a 25-year, long-term service agreement. GE will ensure parts provision and post-installation maintenance manpower is on-hand as and when the inverters require it.
“In an ever more competitive solar industry, service becomes the differentiator,” said Solairedirect in a statement. “Thanks to the long-term service agreement provided by GE, lifetime support is guaranteed for our plants. We are confident in the knowledge that we will be able to continue efficiently supplying solar power.”
GE claims that its service agreement gives Solairedirect improved project bankability, which can reduce the overall cost of ownership of the two plants over the course of their lifetime. In an increasingly competitive Indian solar market, allied to further global consolidation of the inverter industry, such bankability is becoming increasingly attractive for developers and plant owners, not just in India but in other new and emerging solar markets worldwide.
“GE’s experience in turnkey projects execution and its strong footprint in India assures the customer of our reliability and ability to supply quality products that adhere to their technical requirements,” said GE Energy Connections’ grid solutions South Asia commercial leader Sujoy Ray. “With a 400/220 kV substation under execution at the same location—Bhadla in Rajasthan—the customer is confident of meeting the stiff completion schedule with available site establishment.”
Ray added that GE is recognizing an increased demand among solar developers eager to lower their risk profile by having the OEM also provide long-term service support.
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