First Solar’s modules have been used to power a 40 megawatt (MW) ground-mounted photovoltaic power plant in Rajasthan. The project, commissioned by Reliance Power, a Reliance ADA Group company, was completed in five months and covers 350 acres. 500,000 First Solar thin film modules have been installed in the plant, near the village of Dhursar in Jaisalmer in northwestern India.
“This power plant demonstrates the huge potential of solar energy to help India meet its growing energy needs in the most environmentally friendly manner. It is also a testimony of the quick timeframe in which solar power plants can be built and commissioned,” said Anil D Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Power.
What this means for you
India’s ambitious solar journey has just begun. The Nehru National Solar Mission (NSM) projects 20,000 MW of solar capacity by 2020. India has not even crossed 1000 MW yet, so the upside is huge. Several states such as Gujarat, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu has set additional goals that exceed the NSM. American and foreign companies have plenty of opportunity to play in India’s energy market.