Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park
{{Short description|3rd Largest Solar Park in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox power station
| name = Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park
| name_official =
| coordinates = {{coord|15.681522|78.283749|region:IN_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country = India
| location = Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh
| status =
| construction_began =
| commissioned = {{start date and age|17 May 2022}}
| cost =
| owner =Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Private Limited (APSPCL)
| operator =
| solar_type = pv
| solar_collectors =
| solar_collectors_area =
| ps_site_area = {{cvt|24|km2}}
| solar_site_resource = 5.5{{ndash}}6.0 kW⋅h/m2/d{{cite web|url=http://www.nrel.gov/international/images/india_ghi_annual_2016-01.jpg|title=India Solar Resource - Global Horizontal Irradiance - Annual Average, by NREL, National Renewable Energy Laboratory|access-date=20 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329112906/http://www.nrel.gov/international/images/india_ghi_annual_2016-01.jpg|archive-date=29 March 2017|url-status=live}}
| ps_units_operational = 1000 MW
| ps_units_manu_model =
| ps_units_uc =
| ps_units_planned =
| ps_units_cancelled =
| ps_units_decommissioned =
| ps_thermal_capacity =
| ps_electrical_capacity = 1000 MW
| ps_electrical_cap_fac =
| ps_storage_capacity =
| ps_annual_generation =
| website = {{URL|http://apspcl.ap.gov.in/content/kurnoolultramegasolarparks}}
| extra =
}}
Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park in Andhra Pradesh is a solar park spread over a total area of {{convert|24|km2}} in Panyam mandal of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, with a capacity of {{val|1,000|u=MW}}. It was inaugurated by then chief minister of Andhra Pradesh Nara Chandrababu Naidu in 2019 {{Cite web|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2019-01-08/Chandrababu-Naidu-to-inaugurate-Kurnool-Ultra-Mega-Solar-Park-today/471171|title=Chandrababu Naidu to inaugurate Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park today|date=8 January 2019}}
The park was built at an investment of around {{INRConvert|70|b|lk=r}} by solar power developers and the Central and State governments. Solar power developers invested {{INRConvert|10|b}}, while the remaining {{INRConvert|60|b}} was funded by APSPCL supported by a {{INRConvert|2|b}} grant from the Union Government.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/with-kurnool-solar-park-state-takes-a-giant-leap/article18289685.ece|title=With Kurnool solar park, State takes a giant leap|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en|last1=Raghavendra|first1=V.|accessdate=3 May 2017|date=29 April 2017}}
Description
The Kurnool Solar Park is spread over a total area of {{cvt|24|km2}} in the Gani and Sakunala villages of Kurnool district.{{Cite web|url=http://apspcl.ap.gov.in/content/land|title=LAND DETAILS|website=Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Private Limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422190245/http://www.apspcl.ap.gov.in/content/land|archive-date=22 April 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-03-20}} The region is arid. The park utilizes over 4 million solar panels with capacities of 315 and 320 watts. The panels are connected to four 220/33 kV pooling stations of 250 MW each and a 400/220 kV grid substation through nearly {{convert|2,000|km|mi|adj=pre|circuit}} of cables. During a sunny day, the Kurnool Solar Park is able to generate more than 8 GW⋅h of electricity, which is sufficient to meet virtually the entire electricity demand in Kurnool district.
Auction and commissioning
NTPC Limited invited bids from solar power developers for the first phase of the park on 29 April 2015, and the second phase on 21 May 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://apspcl.ap.gov.in/content/kurnool-status|title=Status|website=Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Private Limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422190439/http://www.apspcl.ap.gov.in/content/kurnool-status|archive-date=22 April 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-03-20}} In total, NTPC auctioned 1,000 MW of capacity through a reverse auction.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pv-tech.org/news/azure-power-starts-constructing-100mw-solar-project-in-andhra-pradesh|title=Azure Power starts constructing 100MW solar project in Andhra Pradesh|work=PV-Tech|access-date=2017-03-20|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320233038/https://www.pv-tech.org/news/azure-power-starts-constructing-100mw-solar-project-in-andhra-pradesh|archive-date=20 March 2017|url-status=live}} The contracts were awarded to solar power developers in mid-December 2015.{{Cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/power/sb-energy-wins-ntpc-bid-for-solar-project-in-andhra-pradesh/articleshow/50188030.cms|title=SB Energy wins NTPC bid for solar project in Andhra Pradesh - The Economic Times|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2017-05-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415000524/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/power/sb-energy-wins-ntpc-bid-for-solar-project-in-andhra-pradesh/articleshow/50188030.cms|archive-date=15 April 2017|url-status=live}} 500 MW was awarded to SunEdison (as a part of bankruptcy acquired by Greenko) and 350 MW to Softbank Energy (both at rate {{INR}}4.63/kW), 100 MW to Azure Power and 50 MW to Adani Power (at rates of {{INR}}5.12/kW⋅h and {{INR}}5.13/kW⋅h respectively).{{Cite news|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/economy/adani-power-azure-power-bag-150-mw-solar-projects/183274/|title=AP makes rapid strides: 1 GW ultra mega solar park nearing completion in Kurnool|work=Financial Express|access-date=2017-06-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502045440/http://www.financialexpress.com/economy/adani-power-azure-power-bag-150-mw-solar-projects/183274/|archive-date=2 May 2017|url-status=live|language=en|date=24 December 2015}}
350 MW capacity was commissioned on 29 March 2017 by Softbank Energy.{{cite web |url=https://cleantechnica.com/2017/04/21/softbank-joint-venture-sb-energy-commissions-350-megawatt-solar-project-india/ |title=Softbank Joint Venture SB Energy Commissions 350 Megawatt Solar Project In India |accessdate=22 April 2017 |date=21 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423062919/https://cleantechnica.com/2017/04/21/softbank-joint-venture-sb-energy-commissions-350-megawatt-solar-project-india/ |archive-date=23 April 2017 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/sb-energy-commissions-350-mw-solar-project-in-andhra-pradesh-117041100971_1.html|title=SB Energy commissions 350 MW solar project in Andhra Pradesh|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2017-04-11|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2017-05-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416000853/http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/sb-energy-commissions-350-mw-solar-project-in-andhra-pradesh-117041100971_1.html|archive-date=16 April 2017|url-status=live}} Azure Power had begun construction of 100 MW capacity at the park in December 2016, and commissioned the plant by 13 June 2017.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/azure-power-begins-work-on-100-mw-ntpc-solar-project-in-ap/article9404188.ece|title=Azure Power begins work on 100 MW NTPC solar project in AP|date=2016-12-01|work=The Hindu Business Line|access-date=2017-03-20|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/azure-power-commissions-100-mw-ntpc-solar-project-in-ap/article9726718.ece|title=Azure Power commissions 100 MW NTPC project in AP|work=Hindu BusinessLine|access-date=2017-06-14}}{{cite web|title=Azure Power Commissions 100 MW NTPC Solar Project in Andhra Pradesh|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170613005707/en/|website=www.businesswire.com|accessdate=23 June 2017|language=en|date=13 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033222/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170613005707/en/|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Azure Power Commissions 100 MW NTPC Solar Project in Andhra Pradesh|url=http://investors.azurepower.com/press-releases/2017/06-13-2017-133027910|website=Azure Power|accessdate=23 June 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713173332/http://investors.azurepower.com/press-releases/2017/06-13-2017-133027910|archive-date=13 July 2017|url-status=live}} The commissioning of 100 MW by Azure Power takes the generating capacity of the park to 950 MW, which made it the largest solar park in the world, at the time.
The solar park was damaged by a gale and thunderstorm in Kurnool district on 7 May 2017. Strong winds uprooted some solar panels installed by Softbank and Greenko, and also damaged staff quarters and workers facilities. The damage to the solar park caused by the extreme weather was estimated at {{INRConvert|20|m}}.{{cite web|title=Kurnool: Gales damage world's largest solar park|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/100517/kurnool-gales-damage-worlds-largest-solar-park.html|website=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=13 May 2017|language=en|date=10 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513060318/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/100517/kurnool-gales-damage-worlds-largest-solar-park.html|archive-date=13 May 2017|url-status=live}}
The remaining 50 MW capacity had been awarded to Prayatna Developers, a subsidiary of Adani Power. The company commissioned 30 MW of capacity at the park on 28 June and the remaining 20 MW in July 2017.{{cite web|title=Breaking: Entire 1 GW Kurnool Solar Park to be Grid-Synchronized Tomorrow - Mercom India|url=https://mercomindia.com/breaking-entire-1-gw-kurnool-solar-park-grid-synchronized-tomorrow/|website=Mercom India|accessdate=18 November 2017|date=12 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201034001/https://mercomindia.com/breaking-entire-1-gw-kurnool-solar-park-grid-synchronized-tomorrow/|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}
Over 2,500 skilled and unskilled workers were employed to construct the Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park.{{cite web|title=The World's Largest Solar Park - Kurnool, India|url=https://www.nrdc.org/experts/anjali-jaiswal/worlds-largest-solar-park-kurnool-india|website=NRDC|accessdate=18 November 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107012535/https://www.nrdc.org/experts/anjali-jaiswal/worlds-largest-solar-park-kurnool-india|archive-date=7 November 2017|url-status=live}}
See also
References
{{reflist|refs=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/azure-power-commissions-100-mw-ntpc-solar-project-in-ap/article9726718.ece}}
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Category:Photovoltaic power stations in India
Category:Buildings and structures in Kurnool district
Category:Energy in Andhra Pradesh