Wind-Solar Hybrid Project in Andhra Pradesh Gets Support from USTDA

The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has given a grant to the IL&FS Energy Development Company Limited (IEDCL) for the development of a 41 MW hybrid wind, solar, and energy storage power project in Andhra Pradesh after the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum.

This project is being supported under the US – India Energy Cooperation Program (ECP) which was launched by the USTDA, the Indian government, and the U.S. private sector in 2010. The same program which recently provided assistance to the Indian states of Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh to verify their technical, financial and commercial viability for wind, solar, and energy storage hybrid power projects.

After the successful analysis by the USTDA, the government of Andhra Pradesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop this project with the IEDCL (IL & FS Energy Development Company Ltd.) on the sidelines of the Indo-Pacific Business Forum hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in which the U.S. Cabinet Secretaries and senior leaders from the government and business sectors discussed potential areas of collaboration in the Indo-Pacific.

Black & Veatch, a Kansas-based engineering firm, will be responsible for providing the technical assistance, which will advance pre-implementation and pre-construction activities for the project, which is expected to lead to a 1,040 MW installation. The Kansas firm was selected by the IEDCL to undertake this project.

“Grid modernization through hybrid projects like this one will help promote sustainable economic growth in India and support the government’s goal of reaching 175 GW of capacity from renewable sources by 2022. Hybrid solutions, by optimizing output and reducing variability, will also improve the bankability of renewable energy projects,” said Jason Abiecunas, Director of Distributed Energy Resources at Black & Veatch.

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