First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA – which makes thin-film photovoltaic modules based on cadmium telluride (CdTe) as well as providing engineering, procurement & construction (EPC) services – says that its New Delhi-based subsidiary First Solar Power India Pvt. Ltd has announced commercial operation of 80MWAC and 50MWAC capacity in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, respectively. These projects are part of the 260MWAC project portfolio wholly owned by First Solar in India.
"After achieving a recent milestone of 1GW of PV solar capacity footprint in India, we are delighted to add 130MWAC of utility-scale solar power to the grid, growing our portfolio of operational solar assets to a cumulative capacity of 150MWAC," says Sujoy Ghosh, First Solar's country head for India.
The 130MWAC plants collectively will produce enough energy to power about 227,500 average homes in India, and will displace over 204,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. The project will be powered by more than 1.4 million First Solar modules. The modules have been independently tested to pass accelerated life and stress tests beyond industry standards. With what is claimed to be both a superior temperature coefficient and superior spectral response, they have been independently certified for reliable performance in high-temperature, high-humidity, extreme desert and coastal environments.
The electricity from the projects will be purchased by the Southern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh and The Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited under 25 year power purchase agreements.
