Azure Power Commissions 600 MW Project In Rajasthan

NYSE listed Azure Power yesterday announced the successful commissioning of its largest project- 600 MWs Interstate Transmission System (ISTS) connected solar project, allocated by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). The project is in Bikaner, Rajasthan and the power generated from the project will be supplied to SECI at a tariff of INR 2.53 (~US 3.5 cents) per kWh for 25 years. This is the largest solar power project in India, owned and operated at a single location by any developer. Azure Power had won the project back in July 2018, pointing to the long effort it has taken to commission it. It was part of a 2000 MW auction by SECI.

Azure Power has commissioned this project in phases, with the last 100 MWs commissioned this 0month. Following this, Azure Power has 2510 MWs of high-performing operational solar assets spread across the country.

“It is an incredible way to start the new year. Since this project was initiated around the onset of Covid–19 in India, we faced several challenges amid lockdowns and safety concerns. Despite the challenges and while prioritising the health and safety of all our employees and communities, we have managed to deliver high performing assets and are extremely proud of achieving yet another milestone in our journey towards a more resilient and sustainable future,” says Ranjit Gupta, MD and CEO, Azure Power.

For this project, along with another 200 MW project, Azure also had to knock at the doors of the CERC, in one of the earlier cases involving compensation after the Safeguard Duty (SGD) was imposed on July 30, 2018.

With its manufacturing linked PPA’s also coming through, this fiscal, and the next, should be a busy period for the renewable major, as it seeks to regain its role among the top 5 developers in India, in terms of operational assets.