“We are delighted to have entered this agreement with First Solar, which is one of the few companies in the world that possess a complete set of capabilities required to realise very large photovoltaic solar projects. This agreement is in line with our endeavour of pioneering turnkey solar technologies in India. We are enthusiastic about working with First Solar to make this ambitious project a success and deliver larger benefits to the country,” said Manoj Kumar Upadhyay, Chairman & Managing Director ACME Tele Power Ltd, on signing the agreement, which will see delivery of the thin-film modules by March 2011.
India: a land of opportunity
Commenting on the signing, TK Kallenbach, Executive Vice President of Marketing & Product Management at First Solar, said, “We see India as a land of immense opportunity and potential. We are pleased to collaborate with a leader like ACME to contribute to the country through the development of clean, affordable, sustainable solar electricity utilising our advanced, thin film technology and unparalleled experience in large-scale solar PV systems.”
Elsewhere in the world, First Solar has agreed this week to sell NRG Solar the 290-MW Agua Caliente solar project in Yuma County, Arizona (US). The project is scheduled to be completed by 2014 and has a 25-year power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company. When completed, Agua Caliente is expected to be the largest operational photovoltaic (PV) site in the world.
"Solar power is critical to transitioning our nation to having a greater emphasis on large-scale clean energy technologies and it is going to be projects of the scale of Agua Caliente that will help us achieve this ambitious goal," said David Crane, President and CEO of NRG Energy. "This investment significantly increases our presence in the state and benefits the residents of Arizona while providing attractive returns to NRG's stakeholders."
At full capacity, NRG estimates the 290-MW project will provide clean, zero-emission electricity for more than 225,000 homes. The project is expected to offset approximately 5.5 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide over 25 years, the equivalent of taking over 40,000 cars off the road annually.
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