First Group Captive Solar Plant for Residential Society from Tata Power RE Ltd

A subsidiary of Tata Power Tata and renewable energy giant Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL), has entered into an agreement with Vivarea Condominium, a residential society in Mumbai for the supply of solar power. The captive solar power plant of capacity worth 3.125 MW solar plant will be established at Himayatnagar, Maharashtra. The power plant will generate clean energy for the society. Upon completion, Vivarea Condominium will become the country’s first residential society to use group captive solar energy for domestic usage. Group captive refers to a solar plant set up away from the consumer, where the consumer does not have space to set up a plant at its own site.

TPREL will be responsible for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the captive solar power plant. The plant will generate approximately 7.5 MU of energy, offsetting 6.15 metric tonnes of CO₂ in the first year of its establishment. Set to be commissioned by October 2023, the project promises green power at 40% less than the cost of existing tariff to Vivarea Condominium.

We are happy to announce our ground-breaking partnership with  the Vivarea Condominium, Mumbai to provide clean power for residential  purpose through our captive solar plant. This association is a testament to TPREL’s continued efforts to mainstream the use of renewable energy,” Shivram Bikkina, Chief – Rooftop, Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited.

“Vivarea Condominium is extremely delighted to partner with Tata Power on a group captive solar open access that will produce green energy for our use. We will be the first in the country to get green power at roughly 40% less than the cost of the existing tariff.  With the backing of all the residents, we have always been at the forefront when it comes to switching to clean energy. We believe that investment in green energy is investment in the future of mankind.” said Mitesh Mehta, Honorary President, Vivarea Condominium.

Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL), which has etched out reputation as a leading solar rooftop EPC player for the last eight years, boasts of a portfolio of more than 10 GWp of ground-mount utility-scale solar projects. It has over 1.3 GW of rooftop and distributed generation projects spread across the country along with having provided over 93,000 solar water pumps Among the largest solar manufacturers in India, TPREL operates a manufacturing unit in Bangalore that has a production capacity of 1,135 MW of modules and cells. The total renewables capacity of TPREL is 6,048 MW with an installed capacity of 3,884 MW (Solar – 2,956 MW & Wind – 928 MW) and 2,164 MW under various stages of implementation. In addition, TPREL is looking to establish a greenfield 4 GW solar cell and 4 GW solar module plant. Apart from this, TPREL also provides electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions across various segments and other advisory solutions across the renewable sector.

In September last year, Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited collaborated with Indian Stainless Steel manufacturer – Viraj Profile Private Limited, to set up a 100 MW captive solar plant.

As per reports, the captive power generation market in India is set for growth of 31.05 GW during 2022-2026, progressing at a CAGR of 6.63% during the forecast period.

For the uninitiated, group captive refers to a project which is established by a developer for use by multiple commercial and industrial users. In a group captive project, the users have ownership in equity of 26 per cent at least and they must use at least 51% of the power generated from the plant. The group captive business model is gathering steam since the power cost is lower and the T&D losses are less.

Delhi’s solar policy states that group captive rooftop solar PV plants can be installed. The policy allows for various consumers to be credited from a single larger rooftop system. This can be done by having a billing meter that is combined and shared for all the participating consumers at a single point. This way, consumers can agree upon consumption and generation within themselves. Another way is by having a solar generation meter among consumers.

This group captive solar residential project has set a precedent for other major cities to follow, including Delhi, whose Solar Policy makes provisions for it.