Assam Commissions Northeast India’s First Large-Scale 70 MW Solar Plant on APDCL Land

Assam has operationalised SJVN’s first large-scale solar project in the state, marking the company’s first operational project in the North Eastern Region. 

Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the 70 MW Dhubri Solar Power Project of SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL) on 330 acres of land provided by the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL). In a press release, SJVN said the land for the project has been leased for 28 years at Village Khudigaon Pt-II, Bilasipara Revenue Circle, in Dhubri district of Assam.

SJVN said this solar project was awarded by APDCL to its renewable energy arm, SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL), on 16 February 2023 at a tariff of Rs 3.92 per unit and an EPC cost of Rs 367.44 crore through a tariff-based competitive bidding process. The foundation stone of the project was later virtually laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4 March 2024, and it is now being operationalised after about 10 months. 

The project is designed to generate 141.13 million units of electricity in its first year at a capacity utilisation factor (CUF) of 23%, with an estimated cumulative generation of approximately 3,230 MU over 25 years. The project is expected to result in a reduction of approximately 158,270 tonnes of carbon emissions.

About The Project

Following the inauguration, the Assam chief minister said in a social media post that the project, built at a cost of over Rs 350 crore, will generate 141 million units of electricity annually. He added that with Assam’s solar capacity now at 680 MW and more projects in the pipeline, the state is steadily moving towards its goal of 2,000 MW of renewable power and greater energy self-reliance.

The project was inaugurated in the presence of Prasanta Phukan, Minister of Power, Assam, Bhupendra Gupta, Chairman & Managing Director, SJVN, Krishna Kumar Dwivedi, IAS, ACS (Energy) & Chairman, APDCL, Rakesh Kumar, IAS, Managing Director, APDCL, Ajay Kumar Sharma, Director (Personnel), SJVN with other senior officials from the Government of Assam and SJVN. 

Ajay Kumar Sharma highlighted that the Dhubri Solar Power Project, in addition to generating direct and indirect employment for local communities during both the development and operational phases, will significantly strengthen Assam’s renewable energy portfolio through the supply of clean and green electricity

Secured Order 

SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL) secured the order from Assam Power Development Corporation Limited (APDCL) for three solar power projects with a cumulative capacity of 320 MW. Of the total capacity, SGEL participated in three separate tariff-based competitive bidding tenders floated by APDCL for projects of 50 MW, 70 MW, and 200 MW.

The projects form part of the Letter of Award (LoA) signed in August 2023, under which Assam awarded the 50 MW and 70 MW projects in the solar park category. SGEL secured the 50 MW and 70 MW projects at a tariff of INR 3.92 per unit, while the 200 MW project was awarded at a tariff of INR 3.90 per unit in Assam.