The order was signed off recently in India’s sixth largest city and capital of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, also known as the City of Pearls and the location of Premier Solar’s HQ. The event took place in the presence of the government minister of Andhra Pradesh for major industries, sugar, commerce and export promotion, Smt. J Geetha Reddy, along with representatives from Germany: Dr. Martin Heming (CEO at Schott Solar AG) and Dr. Robert Kuba (Managing Director of Schott Solar Thin Film GmbH).
The contract comprises a total volume of 20 megawatts (MW), 10 MW of which are to be supplied in 2011, with the remainder scheduled for delivery during the second half of 2012.
"This project gives us the opportunity to contribute to climate protection in India. At the same time, Premier Solar’s order will help us to continue expanding our visibility on the Indian market", said Heming. Further details of the project were announced at a press conference immediately after the event. The PV modules will be installed in 2011 by Premier Solar’s new EPC division, Premier Solar Power Tech, in a grid-connected ground mount system. Thanks to this PV system, clean solar energy will be produced to serve over 40,000 households.
"We decided to go ahead with Schott modules because of their proven durability and reliability as well as the company’s long-standing experience in thin-film technology and their industry-leading 30-year warranty", commented Chiranjeev Saluja, Managing Director of Premier Solar.
The record-breaking order is part of grid-connected power plants to be installed under the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy Phase I of Jawahar Lal Nehru National Solar Mission of India. The country is aiming to secure its energy supply in the long term and continue to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels by setting itself the goal of deploying 20 GW of solar power by the year 2022.
Premier Solar, a part of the well diversified 40 year Saluja Group, commenced operations in 1995. It is a pioneer in the field of solar energy backed with 15 years of standing and has a distinction of being one of the first private players in the country’s solar industry. The company has successfully executed one of the biggest solar lantern projects in the country funded by world bank/IREDA.
Premier Solar has also entered into the EPC segment through its new division Premier Solar Powertech for solar power plants, with existing orders of Rs.200 crores and a target of installing 20 MW solar power plants by 2012.
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