Gujarat discoms sign pacts for 3,979 solar projects with 2,500 MW capacity

Gujarat’s four public-owned electricity distribution companies have signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) for 3,979 small-scale distributed solar projects with aggregate capacity of 2,500 MW, the government said on Saturday.

These small-scale distributed solar projects, to be commissioned within the next 18 months, will bring in an investment of over ₹10,000 crore in the state for the development of green energy and allied sectors, it said.

State Energy Minister Saurabh Patel said that the development is a major boost towards the state’s commitment to promote renewable energy.

Gujarat in 2019 notified the Policy for Development of Small-Scale Distributed Solar Projects, which aims to facilitate development of solar projects with size of 0.5 MW to 4 MW in the state’s distribution network.

“In a major boost to the state’s commitment to promote the renewable energy sector, all four DISCOMs of state-owned Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) have signed PPAs for 2500 MW solar power under a unique scheme for small scale distributed solar projects. These projects will be commissioned in 2022,” Patel said.

This will provide a fillip to the country’s mission of achieving 175 GW renewable energy target by year 2022, and 450 GW by year 2030, as set by the Prime Minister of India, it said.

“Gujarat is the only state in the country which has signed power purchase agreements for such a large capacity through such small-scale distributed solar projects,” Patel said.