CLP expands renewable energy portfolio in India

CLP India, a foreign private power player in India, will develop a 39.6 MW wind farm in Harapanahalli, Davanagere District in the state of Karnataka. The company has entered into an agreement with major wind turbine manufacturer, Vestas Wind Technology India Pvt Ltd to develop this green-field project on a turnkey basis.

Rajiv Mishra, Managing Director, CLP India, said, "The Harapanahalli project reflects our commitment to sustaining CLP's position as a leading developer of renewable energy in India. Given the increasing demand and having successfully operationalised 302 MW of the committed 485.6 MW across five wind farms in India, we aim to add around 200 MW of wind power installations every year to our portfolio.”
Mishra said his company has already committed an investment of over Rs 9,700 crore in Indian power projects.
The company said the construction of this new wind project has already commenced and it will be completed in the first quarter of 2011. This wind farm will use 24 Vestas V82 1.65 MW turbines and is expected to qualify as a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project under the Kyoto Protocol, which will contribute significantly to the financial viability of the project.
"The Indian wind energy industry is witnessing an unprecedented change in which CLP and Vestas can benefit from a long term relationship. CLP believes that with this second project the relationship with Vestas has achieved more depth and is looking forward to the next Indian project with Vestas," said Mahesh Makhija, Director - Business Development (Renewables), CLP India.
With this project, CLP's wind portfolio set to increase to 485.6 MW - making it one of the largest wind energy developers in India. CLP has already committed 82.4 MW of wind investments in the state of Karnataka, which are under construction. This addition of 39.6 MW will enhance CLP's presence in Karnataka to 122 MW.
"We are delighted that CLP has selected Vestas as their wind energy solution provider again after successfully completing the Theni Wind Farm Project recently. It shows Vestas' commitment to delivering the highest standards in terms of its product, technology and a safe project completion to our customers," said Sean Sutton, President - Asia Pacific, Vestas.
CLP India is the among the largest foreign investors in the wind power sector with a combined capacity of 485.6 MW - 302 MW under operation and 183 MW under various stages of implementation in Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. In addition to its renewable energy portfolio, CLP India owns and operates a modern 655 MW combined cycle gas power plant in Village Paguthan near Bharuch in Gujarat and is also building a 1,320 MW domestic supercritical coal-fired power project at Jhajjar in the northern state of Haryana.