‘Sure, Pure And Secure’: PM Modi Inaugurates Asia’s Largest 750-Megawatt Solar Plant In MP’s Rewa

The project is the first renewable energy project to supply to an institutional customer outside the state, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Image: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated Asia’s largest Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Project in Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa and said the project exemplifies India’s commitment to attain the target of 175 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2022. The project will not just benefit the state but the entire world as a secure foundation for a clean environment, the PM added. The 750-megawatt ultra mega solar power plant will help in cutting emission equivalent to approximately 15 lakh tonne of carbon dioxide every year, to the nation through video conferencing. PM SPEAKS “Solar energy is going to be a major medium of energy needs not only today but in the 21st century. Because solar energy is sure, pure and secure”. “Today, Rewa has really scripted history. Rewa is identified with the name of mother Narmada and the white tiger. Now, the name of Asia’s largest solar power project has also been added to it.” “As we are launching large projects of renewable energy, we are also making sure that our determination towards clean energy is seen in every aspect of life. We are trying that its benefits reach every corner of the country, every section of society, every citizen”. “Keeping this expectation of the world and the humanity from India, we are engaged in connecting the whole world. The result of this thinking is ISA which is International Solar Alliance. This is the spirit behind one world, one sun, one grid,” he said. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROJECT What is the Rewa project?

• The Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL), a joint venture of state-owned Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (MPUVNL), comprises three solar generating units of 250MW each located on a 500-hectare plot of land inside a solar park with a total area of 1500 hectare.
• Central financial assistance of Rs 138 crore has been provided to RUMSL for the development of the park.
• Mahindra Renewables Private Ltd, ACME Jaipur Solar Power Private Ltd and Arinsun Clean Energy Private Ltd were selected by RUMSL through a reverse auction for developing the three solar generating units.
• The project is the first renewable energy project to supply to an institutional customer outside the state, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
• It will get 24 per cent of energy from the project with the remaining 76 per cent being supplied to the state discoms of Madhya Pradesh.
• It is India’s first such solar project to break the grid parity barrier. In comparison to the tariffs of prevailing solar project in early 2017 of around Rs 4.50 per unit, the Solar project in Rewa achieved the first year tariff of Rs 2.97 per unit. Moreover, it showed a tariff escalation of Rs 0.05 per unit over the period 15 years and a levelized rate of Rs 3.30 per unit over a period of 25 years, as mentioned in Financial Express report.

Madhya Pradesh’s Governor Anandiben Patel, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union minister of new and renewable energy RK Singh and oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan were among those present during the inauguration virtually.