CSP World

Reliance Power's concentrated solar power plant in India could be commissioned next month, after a five month delay, according to Press Trust of India news agency.

The 100 MW plant uses Compact Linear Fresnel Reflectors (CLFR) with technology developed by France's Areva. The project was reportedly able to source 60% of its equipment in India, Siddhartha Ghoshal, managing director of Areva’s solar unit in the country, told a conference, according to PTI.

The plant was included in the 470 MW awarded in the first round of the National Solar Mission (JNNSM) launched by Indian government to support solar deployment in the country with a 20 GW target by 2020

All of the concentrated solar thermal projects awarded have missed the deadline, set by May 2013. Godawari's 50 MW plant was the first to be commissioned, as we reported last June, here, at CSP World. Promoters claimed a lack of available local content as well as a supply shortage from international providers. The projects avoided to be fined after the government extended the deadline until March 2014.

The plant, developed by Reliance's subsidiary Rajasthan Sun Technique, is located in Dhursar, Rajasthan. With a reported cost of $338 million, the project has been financed by Asian Development Bank, FMO, EXIM Bank and Axis Bank. The company claims the Rajsthan state failed to lay a water pipe to the site, leading to the commissioning delay.

According to TPI, Ghoshal stated "It is a project awarded to us by Reliance Power. I am unable to give the total project cost. We have partnered with Larsen and Toubro Chennai, Pune-based Thermax and Engineering India Ltd for this project". More details about the plant can be found here.