VIJAYAWADA: IT and electronics minister Nara Lokesh would inaugurate SAEL Ltd’s 600mw solar power project in YSR Kadapa district on Friday, adding another milestone to Andhra Pradesh’s renewable energy journey.
The projects — SAEL Solar MHP1 and SAEL Solar MHP2 — have been completed in a record 11 months, highlighting the state’s rapid execution capabilities in the clean energy sector and strengthening its position as an emerging renewable energy hub.
Developed with an investment of nearly `3,000 crore, the integrated solar facility spreads across more than 2,400 acres. The inauguration ceremony would be attended by energy minister Gottipati Ravi, district in-charge minister S. Savitha, MLA Ch Adinarayana Reddy, senior district officials and SAEL leadership.
According to the company, the two 300mw projects achieved commercial operations earlier this year, with SAEL Solar MHP1 commissioned on January 30 and SAEL Solar MHP2 on March 13.
The facility uses more than 12 lakh advanced TOPCon bifacial solar modules, most of which were assembled at SAEL’s manufacturing units in Punjab and Rajasthan. The power generated from the projects will be supplied to the national grid under a 25-year power purchase agreement with the solar energy corporation of India.
Officials said the projects are expected to prevent nearly 11 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually while generating significant local employment and economic activity. More than 1,000 workers were engaged in the construction phase, with around 80 per cent hired from nearby communities.
The project has also created long-term income opportunities for local farmers through structured land lease agreements extending up to 25 years.
The inauguration assumes significance as AP pushes ahead with implementation of its Integrated Clean Energy Policy 2024, which targets investments worth `10 lakh crore in renewable energy, storage, green hydrogen, transmission and manufacturing sectors by 2029.
SAEL Industries currently has a portfolio of 8,299 MWp of contracted and awarded solar and battery storage capacity across India, besides 3,625mw of solar module assembly capacity and 164.9mw of agri waste-to-energy operations.
The company is also exploring further investments in AP in renewable and agri waste-to-energy sectors.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
