Solairedirect aims to be 400 MW solar energy in next five years

“With the government providing strong support for renewables and a positive investment outlook, we see a huge growth potential here. In the next five years, we plan to become a 400-mw company,” its managing director Mr Gaurav Sood told PTI here.

Solairedirect, which has already won a 5-mw project in Rajasthan under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), is planning to make an investment of nearly Rs 4,000 crore over the next five years to fund its plans. The company has won the Rajasthan order for a rate as low as Rs 7.49 a unit.

On sourcing of funds, he said it would be a combination of debt, which will be 70 per cent and 30 per cent equity.

“We are the largest independent power producer (IPP) in France. But here, we not only want to become a leading IPP player, but also provide EPC services to companies, which want to set up solar plants,” he said.

Solairedirect also plans to pick up minority stake in companies where it will be providing its EPC services, he said.

“Instead of providing pure EPC services, we will be picking up less than 20 per cent stake in an interested company as well as share their risks,” Mr Sood said.

He said the company will continue to participate in the state as well as Central solar power programmes in the country.

“The 400-mw target is excluding power projects we will be undertaking under the solar programmes as well as under the EPC model. As independent power producers, we are looking at executing projects by signing large power purchase agreements directly with different states, private companies and through joint development approach with customers who already have power purchase agreements under different schemes,” Mr Sood said.

Solairedirect is in talks with various firms for providing its EPC services, he said, adding nearly 40 MW of projects are in discussion.

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