Jakson Group Adds O&M Wins worth 255 MW From NTPC To Kitty

Following on from the award of O&M for NTPC’s 260 MW solar plant at Bhadla in Rajasthan, the Jakson Group has won bids for comprehensive Operation and Maintenance (O&M) for a 250 MWp Solar PV Project in Ananthapuram, Andhra Pradesh and a 5 MWp Solar PV Plant in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. NTPC invited these bids for the Annual Maintenance Contract of both the plants on February 14, 2022, for three years.

The Jakson Group will be responsible for regularly monitoring of both sites for all kinds of maintenance works with various plants components and equipment, warranty claims, spare parts inventory and various other onsite ground services in these territories to ensure smooth & optimum power generation. The services will commence from 1^st June 2022 for the 250 MWp Ananthapuram plant and from 1^st December 2022 for the 5 MWp Andaman plant. The project is expected to generate local employment opportunities & build livelihoods for many.

India’s solar additions started in earnest only in 2017-18, and most EPC contracts came with a defect liability period of between 3-5 years. If we consider a 5-year exit clause, the majority of these assets will come into the market by 2022-23. Plus the 40 GW project pipeline now.  That makes the Solar O&M market a big opportunity.

The Ananthapuram project was constructed on one of the toughest terrains of Anantapur (area consisting of heavy undulations), and the land contained natural streams, dense vegetation and hillocks and was untouched by the solar power plant to maintain the natural ecosystem.

Ananthapuram Ultra Mega Solar Power Project (250 MWp), situated at NP Kunta Solar Park in District Satyasai, Andhra Pradesh, spread across an area of 1298.27 acres, was commissioned in May 2016. The 5 MWp Grid-connected Solar PV Plant situated at Garacharma in Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, is spread across 25 acres & was commissioned on April 2013.

With a 100% average performance rating in 75+ operational sites, Jakson Group’s O&M business has a strong presence in more than 16 states, and from 60 MW in 2014, its portfolio has grown up to 1.6 GW in 2022. The group, with a significant presence in rooftop EPC also, has focused on providing O&M services when it comes to utility scale solar, even as it looks at other verticals including storage and transmission to grow.

Solar O&M costs, much like solar projects themselves, have trended down over the past few years, even as the level of technology integration and data collection has gone up. Industry insiders place costs in India currently at a range of Rs 3.0 lacs to Rs 4.5 lacs per MW, depending on the requirements and services.