French power utility Engie SA has commenced construction on a 400-MW solar park in the Indian state of Gujarat following its successful bid securing the USD-200-million (EUR 182.3m) project in a local tender. The Paris-based company anticipates the photovoltaic (PV) farm to be operational by the second quarter of 2024, bolstering its Indian renewable power plant portfolio to 1.5 GW across 18 assets in seven states.
The 400-MW complex will operate under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam (GUVNL), a regional utility. Engie clinched the deal after emerging victorious in GUVNL's 750-MW Phase XVI auction for solar power projects last year.
Once operational, the solar park is expected to generate approximately 907 GWh of electricity annually, mitigating 774,112 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
As part of its ambitious renewable energy expansion strategy, Engie aims to add 4 GW of renewable generation capacity annually by 2025, targeting a global portfolio of 50 GW by the same year and 80 GW by 2030. In Gujarat, the company already operates a 200-MW solar park in Raghanesda and a 29.9-MW wind farm in Tithva.