Reliance Project In Rajasthan Is Powered By First Solar
First Solar announced the commissioning by Reliance Power
Ltd., a Reliance ADA Group company, of a 40 megawatt (MW) (AC) ground-mounted solar photovoltaic power plant
in the state of Rajasthan that will provide clean energy to Mumbai. The
recently completed project was built in just five months.
Comprising some 500,000 First Solar thin-film modules,
the power plant near the village of Dhursar in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan
in northwestern India, is expected to generate more than 60 million kilowatt
hours (kwh) of clean solar energy a year, making it the country's largest
photovoltaic power plant in terms of electricity generation. Covering 350
acres, it is 23 times the size of Calcutta's famous Eden Gardens cricket
grounds and is expected to satisfy the annual electricity needs of more than
70,000 average Indian households. It will displace nearly 60,000 metric tons of
carbon dioxide emissions per year, the equivalent of taking more than 25,000 cars
off the road.
"We are proud to partner with Reliance on this milestone
project," said Mike Ahearn, First Solar Chairman and Interim Chief Executive
Officer. "We applaud India on its visionary solar policies and Reliance Power
for their leadership in implementing them, and we look forward to helping India
realize its solar vision through this and future projects."
"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.
The Dhursar project is the first of several that Reliance
plans to build with First Solar modules as part of a 100MW module order placed
last year.
All First Solar modules, including those deployed in this
project, are covered by First Solar's industry-leading prefunded collection and
recycling program. Anyone wishing to dispose of First Solar modules can request
collection at any time, at no additional cost, and First Solar will pick up the
modules and recycle the material for use in new solar modules and other glass
products. First Solar's continuous manufacturing process also contributes to
the company's industry-leading energy payback time and the low carbon footprint
of systems using First Solar PV modules.