Tata Power laid the foundation stone for a 400-mw solar power plant at the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR) in Gujarat.
The 400-mw solar PV plant forms part of the world’s largest single-location ultra mega solar power park coming up at DSIR. With an estimated installed capacity of 5,000 mw, the solar park is coming up over land parcels aggregating 11,000 ha. The solar park was recently approved the government.
DSIR is amongst India’s early and largest greenfield Smart City project that aims to provide superlative infrastructure and sustainable environment through the application of ‘smart’ solutions.
Of the total 5,000-mw capacity of the solar park, the first phase envisaging 1,000 mw is currently under development. In 2019, Tata Power was awarded 300 mw. The remaining 700 mw was collectively awarded in August 2020 to the following five companies.
- Vena Energy Renewables
- Tata Power
- ReNew Power
- SJVN Ltd
- TEQ Green Power
Tata Power, it may be mentioned, was allotted 100 mw of the 700 mw discussed above, thus taking its total capacity to 400 mw. Generation from this 100-mw capacity will be supplied to Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd.
The laying of the foundation stone for Tata Power’s 400-mw solar project on October 16, 2020, also marked recommencement of site work. This was commemorated by a tree plantation function at the site of the 300-mw project. The ceremony was conducted in the presence of Dr Parul Mansata, Deputy Collector, Dholera Special Investment Regional Development Authority; Ashish Khanna, President – Renewables, Tata Power, and local community leaders.
“The Ultra Mega Solar Power Park in Dholera is a state-of-the-art project that will provide clean, renewable energy. Solar power is the biggest natural resource gifted to humans and DSIR is poised to use this gift towards the betterment and sustainable human life. I am happy to share that M/s. Tata Power laid the foundation stone of its 400-mw solar park establishment in DSIR and further, we are looking forward to devise an innovative approach for attracting investors to the region that will thrive on renewable energy” said Dr. Parul Mansata.
Other developmental works at DSIR
Roads: National Highway Authority of India recently initiated development work of the Ahmedabad-Dholera four-lane expressway project. The work order of Rs 3,500 crore for the stretch of road connecting Ahmedabad to DSIR is expected to begin shortly. The Ahmedabad-Dholera expressway will have more advanced features than the Ahmedabad-Vadodara expressway and is expected to reduce the commute between Ahmedabad and Dholera to less than an hour, a release from DSIR said.
Rail: Dholera Industrial City Development Ltd is also in process of implementing the Bhimnath-Dholera Rail network, so as to ease the movements of goods coming in Dholera or going out to either ports or supplying across the nation.
Other facilities: Features like large land parcels, plug-n-play utilities, CETP, STP, WTP, etc. also facilitate companies who intend to setup some of the biggest industries in India. Advantages like lowest power tariff, 5,000-mw Solar Park, ICT-enabled networking, etc will make industries across sectors, more competitive and help them focus on their business without worrying about the utility & services, the DSIR release observed.
New Industrial Policy
On August 7, 2020, Gujarat government announced its new industrial policy. This succeeded the Gujarat Industrial Policy 2015, which was to end on December 31, 2020, or up to the release of the new policy. (Also See: Gujarat Industrial Policy 2020 in PDF format)
Key to photographs:
Featured photograph shows solar power project foundation stone laying ceremony. Seen closest to the foundation stone are Dr Parul Mansata, Deputy Collector, Dholera Special Investment Regional Development Authority and Ashish Khanna, President – Renewables, Tata Power
Inside photograph shows road development works at DSIR. Seen in the file picture is a road network at the G-4 and E-2 junctions.(Source: www.dicdl.in)
