The PSU plans to set up a 1,000-megawatt (MW) per annum manufacturing capacity
August 07, 2015
NTPC Ltd is exploring options to manufacture solar equipment as part of the state-owned power producer’s strategy to be present across the green energy value chain. To start with, India’s largest power generator is evaluating a plan to set up a 1,000-megawatt (MW) per annum manufacturing capacity, which may require an investment of Rs.5,000 crore.
The plan stems from the fact that NTPC has to set up 10,000 MW of solar power capacity on its own, along with buying 15,000MW from solar project developers, on behalf of the ministry of new and renewable energy.
There has been considerable interest in the solar-equipment manufacturing space in India, with US-based SunEdison Inc. announcing its plans to establish a joint venture (JV) with Adani Enterprises Ltd to build a solar, photovoltaic manufacturing facility in India at an investment of about USD 4 billion.
US-based First Solar Inc. and China’s Trina Solar are among companies that are considering plans to set up manufacturing facilities in India.
With an installed capacity of 45,048MW, NTPC has around a 17 percent share of India’s power-generation capacity of 272,593MW, and has set itself a target of becoming a 128,000MW power producer by 2032. It plans to raise the contribution of renewable energy to 28 percent of its planned capacity by then.
