The 250MW solar project, to be built with an investment of around €120m at the Pavagada solar park in Tumkur district, is targeted to be commissioned in the third quarter of 2019.

The Fortum solar power plant will sell its power at a fixed tariff of Rs2.85 ($0.039)/kWh for 25 years.

According to BELECTRIC Solar & Battery CEO Ingo Alphéus, the contract from Fortum Solar India represents the most sizeable project it has won till date from a third-party customer.

Alphéus said: “Together with the 349 MWp (250 MW-AC) project Limondale, which we are starting to build for our parent company innogy SE in Australia, this underpins our strong position in large-scale EPC and O&M for ground-mounted PV.”

The new Fortum solar project in the Pavagada solar park is also expected to become the largest capacity installation to be taken up so far by BELECTRIC in India. The project contract will be executed by BELECTRIC’s subsidiary BELECTRIC Photovoltaic India.

BELECTRIC Photovoltaic India CEO and managing director Jitendra Singh said: “This project includes five sites in a solar park totaling to 250 MW-AC and we plan to start construction next month.

“This new contract in addition to our two large rooftop projects under construction in India proves again that we are highly competitive in today’s market and that our costumers recognise our high health and safety as well as quality standards.”

Fortum had won the 250MW solar project in the Pavagada solar park from Karnataka Renewable Energy Development in June 2018. The company already has an operating 100MW solar plant in the Pavagada solar park.

In Australia, BELECTRIC will commence construction works on the 349MW Limondale solar plant near Balranald, New South Wales.

Established in 2001, BELECTRIC is engaged in development and construction of utility-scale solar power projects and energy storage systems. Its Indian subsidiary BELECTRIC Photovoltaic India has been involved in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects in India.