The plan includes a 140-MWp project with Sitara Solar Energy Pvt Ltd in Rajasthan and a 70-MWp project with Paryapt Solar Energy Pvt Ltd in Gujarat
Philippines-based renewable energy firm AC Energy Corp. (Acen) and partnered with Indian solar power firms to build a $220-million solar power project in the country with an installed capacity of 420 megawatts as their initial two solar farms start commercial operations.
The plan includes a 140-MWp project with Sitara Solar Energy Pvt Ltd in Rajasthan and a 70-MWp project with Paryapt Solar Energy Pvt Ltd in Gujarat.
Sitara’s project is equipped with alternate current (AC) inverters that enable it to produce 100 MW. Similarly, Paryapt’s is rated at 50 MWac. Both projects were developed by UPC-AC Energy Solar, a joint venture with UPC Solar Asia-Pacific which is, in turn, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based UPC Renewables.
Acen said in a statement that with Sitara and Paryapt having gone commercial, UPC-AC Energy Solar was ready to build their 420- MWp—300 MWac—in Madhya Pradesh state.
UPC Renewables named this project Masaya Solar which cost an estimated $220 million and rated at 450 MWp and 300 MWac.
UPC Renewables said Masaya would start operation by March 2022 and would supply electricity to state-owned Solar Energy Corp. of India under a 25-year contract.
“Switching on our first two solar projects in India is a major milestone that strengthens our position in India’s renewables space,” AC Energy International chief operating officer Patrice Clausse said in a statement.
“We are pleased to commission these two projects on time and within the construction budget despite many challenges due to COVID-19 pandemic delays and rising material costs,” UPC-AC Energy Solar chief executive Pranab Kumar Sarmah said.
Together, Sitara and Paryapt comprise more than 466,000 solar panels which are capable of producing about 358 gigawatt-hours yearly. This is equivalent to an estimated 323,990 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions avoided.
This comes following announcements of several foreign companies partnering with Indian solar firms to expand their base in India.
