BHEL commissions 5 Mw solar power plant

Chennai/ Bangalore: Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has commissioned a 5-Mw grid-connected solar power plant at Shivasamudram near Mandya. This is the single largest solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Karnataka.

The plant has been set up by BHEL for the state-owned power producer, Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), at a cost of Rs 62 crore.

With the commissioning of this unit, the company has set a new record in its solar PV business in a single year, by commissioning 15 Mw of solar power plants in various parts of the country during fiscal 2011-12, marking a significant contribution to the nation’s green initiatives.

For the Shivasamudram project, BHEL’s scope of work included design, manufacture, supply, erection and commissioning of the solar power plant. In addition, BHEL will also operate and maintain the solar power plant for a period of three years.

The solar power plant is operating satisfactorily since synchronising with the main grid and DC power generated by the solar panels is converted into AC by inverters and fed into a 66 kV grid through transformers. Crystalline silicon photovoltaic (C-SI PV) technology has been used for the solar power plant, which is well-proven and has the longest operational experience across the world.

The power plant consists of arrays of photovoltaic panels made of crystalline silicon solar cells that absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity that will be fed into the main grid.

Backed by a vast experience and expertise of nearly three decades in Power Electronics & System integration, BHEL is a leading player in the field of solar photovoltaics, from Solar Cells to System Integration of SPV power plants in India.

The SPV modules are manufactured at its ultra-modern manufacturing facility located at Bangalore. An R&D unit, located in Gurgaon, supports the operations in semi-conductors and solar photovoltaics.

In line with the rapid growth in this field, BHEL is planning to augment its manufacturing facility for Solar PV Modules during the current fiscal. The company’s PV modules are certified to international standards by accredited agencies.

Starting from small applications like solar powered street lighting, rural water pumping systems, railway signaling, offshore drilling platforms, among others, BHEL has supplied and commissioned large size stand-alone as well as grid-interactive solar power plants in a number of cities and remote areas of the country.

The company’s SPV plants have enabled the people of Lakshadweep, Sagar Islands of West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, tribal areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand among others to vastly improve their quality of life.