Denied nod in Odisha, Canadian JV goes to Maharashtra to set up solar park

Bhubaneswar: Sarus Solar, a joint venture of three Canadian firms which was denied permission by Odisha government to a 500-MW solar photo-voltaic farm in the State, is planning to invest around Rs 6,500 crore to set up the farm in Maharashtra.

Sarus Solar, a consortium of PV manufacturer Canadian Solar, EPC firm Guycan Solar and investment firm Mackie Research Capital Corporation, will now set up the park at Shahpur in Thane district of the western State.

Last year, the company had approached the Odisha government to set up a similar project in the State. However, due to certain issues pertaining to approval, the company had to scrap the plan.

"We see huge potential in the solar sector in India especially after the government announced its target of 100 GW capacity by 2020. We plan to set up solar parks of 500-MW each in the country. To begin with, we plan to set up our first one in Maharashtra with an investment of Rs 6,500 crore," company’s India head of operations Arun Agarwal said in Mumbai.

"We had earlier decided to set up our first plant in Odisha. But due to the amendments in the Land Acquisition Act, the project could not be taken forward as we had sought land from the government," Agarwal explained.

"We are now awaiting Maharashtra government's approval for the project. We plan to supply the entire power generated to the State and we are working out on the possibilities of signing power purchase agreements with discoms," he said.

The EPC work of the project will be carried out by Guycan, while the panels and technology would be provided by Canadian Solar and Mackie Research will fund the project entirely.

Sarus Solar has also partnered with Indian firm Neelkanth Solar Energy to enter the Indian market for "ease in doing business" in the country, he said, adding that the firm has already bought 16 acre of land on lease for 25 years from Dhanashree Infratech.

"We expect the project to be completed within 30 months from commissioning of the work. Once this project kicks off, we are planning to develop a similar 500-MW park in Jharkhand. We have already received an approval for setting up the project there," he said.

The company, which will be initially importing solar panels, is also looking to set up a manufacturing unit in the country. "Initially we will be importing the panels. But going forward we will set a manufacturing unit here," Agarwal added.