Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), a public sector undertaking (PSU) involved in the manufacturing of electrical equipment, has announced that it has bagged orders worth ₹1.25 billion (~$0.019 billion) for the development of two solar photovoltaic (SPV) power projects in Gujarat.

Previously, Mercom reported that BHEL had bagged a 75 MW grid-connected solar PV project to develop in Gujarat Solar Park, located in Charanka village of Patan district.

Under the contract, BHEL will be responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of both the projects which are slated to be developed at Gujarat Solar Park.

The first order for the development of 20 MW of solar project was placed by Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) while the second order for 10 MW was given by Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (GSFC).

With these orders, BHEL’s solar portfolio has jumped to 580 MW, and projects under execution at Gujarat solar park has increased to 120 MW.

“The company has enhanced its state-of-the-art manufacturing lines of solar cells and solar modules. In addition to this, space-grade solar panels using high efficiency cells and space-grade battery panels are also being manufactured by BHEL at its Bengaluru plant,” BHEL said in its press release.

As reported previously by Mercom, BHEL is also seeking to enter into a consortium agreement with Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) manufacturers or suppliers to bid for the development of 20 MW of grid-connected solar project with BESS on the island of Andaman & Nicobar.

The state of Gujarat has installed approximately 1.4 GW of solar as of January 2018, according to Mercom India Project tracker. Solar installations in 2017 totaled just 282 MW. Gujarat’s solar RPO is set at 4.25 percent for 2018-19.

Image credit: By Activ Solar (Dunayskaya Solar Park) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Nitin is a staff reporter at Mercomindia.com and writes on renewable energy and related sectors. Prior to Mercom, Nitin has worked for CNN IBN, India News, Agricultural Spectrum and Bureaucracy Today. He received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism & Communication from Manipal Institute of Communication at Manipal University and Master’s degree in International Relations from Jindal School of International Affairs. More articles from Nitin Kabeer