The grid-connected project is expected to be operational by the end of Q1 2017, and will provide power to a major IT consumer in Chennai, under a long-term agreement with CleanMax Solar.
“We are proud to be partnering with India’s leader in the corporate solar market,” said NexTracker CEO Dan Shugar. “Our advanced solar tracker technology and experience in the India market will complement CleanMax Solar’s efforts to accelerate India’s private sector adoption of renewable power generation.”
Though its market has grown exponentially in recent years, just 7% of PV installations in India utilize tracker technology, according to NexTracker. This is expected to grow to 31% by 2021, with the country’s project developers showing increasing interest in the technology. NexTracker also recently supplied India’s largest tracker project to date – the 105 MW Adani Power Plant in Punjab.
“We are pleased to be working with NexTracker on this project,” said CleanMax Solar Managing Director Kuldeep Jain, echoing Shugar’s sentiment. “We are always looking for the best technology to increase output from our solar plants, and NexTracker’s technology complements this approach perfectly.
Earlier this week, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) announced a further 500 MW tender for projects in the state. These are all good signs for solar in India, with analysts predicting more than 9 GW to be installed in the country in 2017.
Tracker technology is also expected to break into several other new markets this year, although the USA will likely remain its strongest base. NexTracker is also supplying modules for a 191 MW project in Brazil.
