SGEL, a subsidiary of state-owned power producer SJVN, has secured a contract to develop 1.35GW of solar projects in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

The investment for the projects is estimated to be $913.1m.

The letter of awards for the development was received in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and key SJVN executives.

The projects will be developed across Maharashtra on sites at Nashik, Solapur, Ahmednagar and Pune. They are part of the Mukhya Mantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana 2.0 [a solar scheme for Maharashtra farmers].

SJVN chair and managing director Geeta Kapur stated the initiative aligns with the central government’s commitment to generate 50% of energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.

SGEL won the projects through a competitive bidding process in a tender issued by MSEB Agro Power, a subsidiary of the state-owned Maharashtra State Electricity Board.

The tender's total capacity was 7GW, with SGEL bidding for 1.5GW. This included 500MW in the first round and 1GW in the second.

The projects are a part of India's largest feeder-level solarisation scheme.

This development is SGEL's inaugural contribution to the PM-KUSUM scheme [a plan for an additional 30.8GW of solar capacity].

The projects will be eligible for central financial assistance, which could cover up to 30% of costs.

SJVN is on a fast track to achieve 25GW of capacity by 2030 and 50GW by 2040.

Suzlon, a renewable energy company in India, has secured a new order for a 72.45MW wind farm in the Dwarka district of Gujarat, from Juniper Green Energy.

Suzlon will supply and install 23 3.15MW wind turbine generators and hybrid lattice tubular towers.