Assam’s first solar power plant inaugurated at Udalguri

In a boost to power generation and a shift towards cleaner energy, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has inaugurated the state’s first solar power plant at Lalpul in Udaguri district. Installed under the Assam Solar Energy Policy, 2017 on the ‘build, own, operate’ model, this 25 MW solar project has been undertaken by the Assam Power Distribution Co Ltd (APDCL) and one of India’s leading independent solar power producers, Azure Power. The project, worth Rs 3 billion, is expected to generate nearly 5 crore units of electricity; benefitting the residents of Darrang, Udalguri, and Sonitpur. Taking to Twitter, Chief Minister Sarma wrote, “Happy to inaugurate Assam’s first solar power plant set up under Assam Solar Energy Policy, 2017 … I compliment @apdclsocial and @AzurePowerSolar for successfully setting up the 25-MW solar plant project.” According to Harsh Shah, the chief executive of Azure Power, the electricity generated by the plant will be supplied to APDCL under a long-term 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA). “APDCL is relentlessly striving to provide all of its customers with uninterrupted, dependable, secure, and high-quality power,” said Rakesh Kumar, the managing director of APDCL.See also: Rajasthan CM approves setting up two power projects UT called to expedite Smart Grid pilot project