Moser Baer commissions 30-MW solar farm in Gujarat

Moser Baer Clean Energy (MBCEL) today said it has commissioned a 30-MW solar farm, developed at an approximate investment of Rs 465 crore, in Banaskantha district of Gujarat.

The solar farm which has been set up using 2,36,000 Thin Film modules at Gunthawad village of in Banaskantha, will be formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Narendra Modi on October 14.

According to MBCEL officials, the project was awarded under Phase 1 of Gujarat Solar Power policy 2009 and is likely to be the first major project to be commissioned under the Gujarat Solar Mission.

"We could not have completed this project in a record time without support and guidance of the state government," Chairman of Moser Baer Projects (MBPPL), the parent company of MBCEL, Ratul Puri told reporters here.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi will be formally inaugurating the 30 MW solar farm developed by us on October 14, he said, adding that the farm has already been yesterday.

Talking about future plans of the company Puri said, "As solar power is clean, the company is working towards commissioning of 300 MWs of solar projects in the next 12 months in India, Germany, Italy and the UK."

"We shall have 100 MW operational capacity by the end of October, 2011 and plan to install more than 5 GW by 2020," he added. The solar farm spread over 305 acre of land is likely to generate about 52 million Kwh of energy which would provide electricity to nearly 50,000 homes everyday and save about 50,000 tonne of carbon emission annually.

According to MBCEL country head, Rajya Ghei they had selected Thin Film solar PV modules as they were best suited for climatic conditions in Gujarat and are known to generate more electricity than the assured levels.

"This solar farm is very special to all of us as this is the first large scale facility to be set up in India. The farm has been designed to encompass ponds, village roads, etc in it and yet generate electricity on such a large scale," CEO of Moser Baer Solar Systems K N Subramaniam said.