BHEL bags Rs 169 crore order for solar photovoltaic power plant

Order comes after the firm bagged EPC orders from Neyveli Lignite Corporation and Bharat Electronics Ltd earlier this year

State-owned power equipment maker BHEL on Tuesday said it has secured an order to set up solar photovoltaic (SPV) plants, estimated to cost Rs 169 crore.

The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) order has been placed by West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Corporation Ltd (WBSEDCL), BHEL said in a statement.

Three SPV plants, of 10 Mw each, are to be set up at Mejia (Bankura), Santaldih (Purulia) and Chharrah (Purulia) in West Bengal, it added.

Earlier this year, BHEL had bagged EPC orders from Neyveli Lignite Corporation and Bharat Electronics Ltd for setting up of a 65 Mw SPV power plant at Neyveli (Tamil Nadu) and a 15 Mw SPV power plant at Ordinance Factory Premises, Medak (Telangana), respectively, which are being implemented.

In 2015 as well, it bagged EPC orders from NTPC for 50 Mw solar power plants each at Ananthpur (AP) and Mandsaur (MP).

While the Ananthpur project has been commissioned, the Mandsaur project is currently under execution.

The Maharatna firm manufactures solar cells and modules at its Electronics Division unit in Bengaluru, while space-grade solar panels using high efficiency cells and space-grade battery panels are manufactured at its Electronic Systems Division, also in Bengaluru.