Clinton Foundation to set up solar energy project in Gujarat

Monday, 01 Sep 2008

BS reported that Clinton Foundation of USA is planning to develop what could be by far the world's largest solar energy project in Gujarat. The project will be an integrated solar city with a capacity of 5 times the size of the current largest solar project in Mojave Desertin USA, being developed by BrightSource with an eventual capacity of up to 900 MW.

The facility is expected to cost INR 20,000 crore and will produce raw materials and manufacture panels on site. This is expected to reduce costs so that the power produced at the site will cost about INR 4 per unit. It has not been disclosed whether the project would employ solar photovoltaic or solar thermal technology.

The sources said that the Gujarat government is considering a location in Kutch or Banaskanta. The project, tagged as one of the largest foreign direct investment in the state will also be a landmark project as the cost of power generation is likely to be 70% less than the conventional cost of generation. All the raw materials including glass and panels will be produced by them, bringing down the cost substantially. Gujarat has roped in US based Nobel Laureate John Byrne to chart the state's solar roadmap.

As per report, Clinton Foundation is also in talks with governments of Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan to set up solar power projects. A number of corporate houses including Essar, Indiabulls, Reliance, ADAG, TATA Power, Suryachakra and Euro Group have also lined up solar projects. Mr Mukesh Ambani controlled Reliance and Euro Solar has already been given letters of intent of 5 MW each from the 10 MW quotas allotted by the Centre to each state.