The 76MWp Nellai photovoltaic (PV) power plant entered operations last week in India. This is Statkraft’s first utility-scale solar project in the country.
Nellai was built in Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India. The plant’s output – 120GWh per year – is equivalent to the annual power consuptiom of over 500,000 Indian houses.
Statkraft developed Nellai through the Indian Group Captive model. This way, customers hold a 26% share of the project and acquire the power produced via long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs).
Construction of Nellai was carried out by Belectric Photovoltaic India Private Limited, which will also provide operation & maintenance (O&M) services for the next three years.
Currently, Statkraft also has the 150MW Tidong hydropower plant under construction. With start-up expected in late 2022, it is located in Himachal Pradesh.