BP and Tata: $US 100 Million Investment to Create Solar Mega Plant in Bangalore to Meet Demands of Indian and Global Solar PV Markets
Release date:
21 March 2007
Today at the inauguration of a new 36MW solar photovoltaic (PV) production line, the board of Tata BP Solar confirmed that this represents another step towards realizing the designed potential of the 300MW plant. The new production line has seen Tata BP Solar more than double its cell manufacturing capacity to reach some 50MW per annum. The next phase of the expansion will see an additional 128MW of cell manufacturing capacity added during 2007-8.
As well as the cell manufacturing capacity increase, the Tata BP Solar board has also approved investment which will double the facility’s module manufacturing capacity from 45MW to 85MW by end 2007.
The Tata BP Solar board expects the total investment required to achieve the plant’s full designed potential of 300MW to be in the order of US$300 million by 2010, generating a sizable number of jobs directly and many more indirectly. This investment will ensure Tata BP Solar, already a leader in cell manufacture and the design of solar solutions, retains its position as the largest manufacturer of solar PV products in the Indian sub-continent.
As well as the cell manufacturing capacity increase, the Tata BP Solar board has also approved investment which will double the facility’s module manufacturing capacity from 45MW to 85MW by end 2007.
The Tata BP Solar board expects the total investment required to achieve the plant’s full designed potential of 300MW to be in the order of US$300 million by 2010, generating a sizable number of jobs directly and many more indirectly. This investment will ensure Tata BP Solar, already a leader in cell manufacture and the design of solar solutions, retains its position as the largest manufacturer of solar PV products in the Indian sub-continent.
“This announcement confirms our commitment to maintaining market leadership by developing sustainable clean energy activities in India underpinned by world-class manufacturing,” said Syamal Gupta, Chairman, Tata BP Solar. “We have already established solid manufacturing, design, delivery and marketing capabilities. We will now continue to meet the demands of Indian and global solar PV markets.”
“The Tata BP Solar team is dynamic, skilled and experienced. We are proud of its excellent track record in safety and performance delivery,” said Lee Edwards, CEO, BP Solar. “We are confident that Tata BP Solar will continue to deliver high quality products and services to diverse markets in both rural and urban areas. The talent and dedication of the Bangalore team will help us realise our vision of offering customers solar PV-generated electricity at prices on a par with conventional electricity supply.”
The state-of-the-art technology, developed by BP Solar and manufactured by Tata BP Solar, will deliver products and solutions that serve both the Indian and global markets, earning substantial foreign exchange earnings for India while also increasing product supply locally.
The state-of-the-art technology, developed by BP Solar and manufactured by Tata BP Solar, will deliver products and solutions that serve both the Indian and global markets, earning substantial foreign exchange earnings for India while also increasing product supply locally.
Notes to editors:
Tata BP Solar Tata BP Solar is Bangalore based joint venture of Tata Power and BP Solar, where BP Solar holds a 51% stake and Tata Power Company Limited holds the balance. Formed in 1989 with commercial operations beginning in 1991, Tata BP Solar has a solid track record of managing safety, growth and performance. The company manufactures solar panels, as well as delivering solar solutions to the end customer. The company has supplied solar energy systems that provided energy to more than 2 million people in the Indian sub continent for applications such as village lighting, water pumping and telecommunications. Tata BP Solar has the distinction of obtaining ISO 9001 quality accreditation and ISO 14001 environmental standards accreditation from BVQI, London. Tata BP Solar products and systems have been accorded approvals by various test agencies across the world including the World Health Organization; Bureau of Indian Standard, Asian Institute of Technology amongst others
BP Solar is part of BP Alternative Energy. BP Alternative Energy was launched in November 2005 and combines all of BP’s interests in low and zero-carbon power generation: wind, solar, hydrogen power with carbon capture and storage and gas-fired power generation. BP Solar is a global company with over 2,200 employees focused on harnessing the sun’s energy. This includes the design, manufacture and marketing of quality solar electricity systems for a wide range of applications in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. With over 30 years experience and installations in more than 160 countries, BP Solar is one of the world’s largest solar companies and has manufacturing facilities in Spain, the US, Australia, India and China
BP is among the world’s largest energy companies with operations in 110 countries and more than 96,000 employees. BP’s investments in India include Castrol India Limited and Tata BP Solar. Recently BP was awarded a Coal Bed Methane block at Birbhum in the State of West Bengal. BP currently employs over 1500 people in India.
The Tata Power Company Ltd
The Tata Power Company Limited, a Tata Group flagship company, is India's largest private sector power utility with an installed generation capacity of over 2,300MW. The company has emerged as a pioneer in the Indian power sector, with a track record of performance, customer care and sustained growth. Tata Power has a presence in all the segments of the power sector, including generation (thermal, hydro, solar and wind), transmission and distribution. Tata Power has successful public-private partnerships in generation, transmission and distribution, such as North Delhi Power Ltd with Delhi Vidyut Board for distribution in North Delhi, Powerlinks Transmission Ltd with Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd for evacuation of power from Tala hydro plant in Bhutan to Delhi, and Maithon Power Ltd with Damodar Valley Corporation for a 1000 MW Mega Power Project. Tata Power recently won the bid to set up the 4000MW Power Project in Mundhra, Gujarat from the Ministry of Power, GoI.
The Tata Group comprises 96 operating companies in seven business sectors: information systems and communications; engineering; materials; services; energy; consumer products; and chemicals. The Group was founded in the middle of the nineteenth century and is one of India's largest and most respected business conglomerates. For the 2005-06 fiscal year, revenues were $21.9 billion, and the Group has an estimated market capitalization of $47.5 billion. The Group has 28 publicly listed enterprises including some of the strongest brands in India such as Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors, and Tata Tea. The Tata Group has been active internationally for quite some time and currently have operations in more than 54 countries and its companies export products and services to 120 nations
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