Country's first solar thermal power plant to go on stream next month

GGEL, the flagship company of the HIRA group in the renewable energy sector, had pumped in Rs 700 cr on the project

Country's first solar thermal power plant developed by Chhattisgarh-based Godawari Green Energy Limited (GGEL) in Rajasthan would go on stream in May.

The 50-Mw Solar thermal power plant set up in Naukh village located in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan is reported to be the first plant in the country. GGEL, the flagship company of the HIRA group in the renewable energy sector had pumped in Rs 700 crore on the project.

"The project of thermal solar power plant is ready and we are planning to commission it next month," Hira Group Directors Dinesh Agrawal and Abhisekh Agrawal said Monday evening. The company is seeking President Pranab Mukherjee's date to start the plant, they added. The solar thermal power plant is based on the parabolic trough technology which is the most prevalent and proven technology being used globally for such plants. GGEL was one among the seven developers of the solar thermal power plant in the first phase of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM).GGEL has signed the Power Purchase Agreement with NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN). "The construction work of the plant started in January 2011 and we have completed it in a record time," the company directors said the company would explore the possibilities of taking up another project later.

"We aim to generate superior return for our investors by being the leading solar thermal power generating company in India within 2022 and by being the first company to achieve grid-parity in solar power in India," they said.

The Hira Group is a conglomeration of 14 companies across India and operates independently. Group companies Godawari Power and Ispat Ltd, and Hira Ferro Alloys Ltd are listed on Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange.

The Group now plans to venture into real estate sector. "We are developing an integrated township in 330 acres of land in Raipur and the project will get off in next six months," the company directors said. After the success of the project, the company would plan to expand its wings in the real estate sector.