Swaraj Tractors and Mahindra Susten have commissioned a 42 MWp group-captive solar project in Bathinda, Punjab, creating a dedicated clean-power source for Swaraj’s manufacturing operations in Mohali. The plant is expected to supply around half of the electricity required by the company’s manufacturing, assembly and foundry facilities.
The project combines industrial decarbonisation with a substantial in-state renewable asset. Built across approximately 141 acres at Teona Pujarian village in Talwandi Sabo, it uses N-type TOPCon bifacial modules on fixed-tilt structures. Mahindra says the facility should generate about 61.54 million units annually and avoid more than 42,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
A Direct Link Between Generation and Manufacturing
The group-captive structure connects a solar plant with identifiable industrial demand rather than relying solely on supply to a state utility. Power from Bathinda will support Swaraj’s manufacturing, assembly and foundry operations in Mohali. Residual capacity is proposed to green electricity use by other Mahindra Group entities in Punjab, improving utilisation of the contracted asset within the state.
For manufacturers, this model can provide longer-term visibility over part of their electricity supply and emissions profile. It also requires accurate load forecasting, open-access scheduling, metering and compliance with captive-consumption requirements. The value is determined not just by annual solar generation, but by how effectively that generation is matched with operating hours and settlement processes at the consuming plants.
Technology Choices Aim to Raise Yield
The project uses high-efficiency N-type TOPCon bifacial modules on fixed-tilt mounting. TOPCon technology can support higher conversion efficiency and improved performance characteristics compared with older module generations, while bifacial construction can capture reflected light on the rear surface where site design and ground conditions permit.
Fixed-tilt structures reduce mechanical complexity relative to trackers, but plant layout still governs row spacing, shading and land use. The reported annual generation of 61.54 million units implies that module selection, DC-to-AC design, inverter availability and site operations will all need to work together. Performance should be assessed against the project’s actual resource conditions and guaranteed output rather than technology labels alone.
Domestic Sourcing Adds an Industrial Dimension
Mahindra reports that more than 97% of project components were sourced within India. The figure gives the commissioning a manufacturing dimension beyond the electricity produced. Large C&I projects can support domestic demand for modules, structures, cables, transformers, switchgear and balance-of-system equipment when procurement standards remain rigorous.
Domestic sourcing does not remove the need for traceability and quality assurance. Equipment records, factory test certificates, serial-number tracking and warranty responsibility should remain available throughout the plant’s operating life. A project intended to decarbonise industrial production must itself be maintained as a dependable long-duration asset.
Water-Smart Operations Suit Punjab’s Context
Semi-automated robotic cleaning systems will be used on the modules, with an estimated saving of 1.92 million litres of water annually. Cleaning strategy matters because dust reduces output, yet water use can create its own resource burden. Mechanised or low-water approaches can improve consistency while limiting dependence on manual washing.
The outcome will depend on how frequently cleaning is required and how the equipment performs across seasons. Operators should track soiling losses, cleaning effectiveness, machine availability and any risk of module abrasion. Data-led cleaning schedules can target intervention when the generation recovered is worth the operational effort, rather than following a fixed timetable without reference to site conditions.
A New C&I Route for Mahindra Susten
Mahindra Susten describes the project as its first supply of power to commercial and industrial customers through the group-captive structure, complementing its traditional model of supplying government utilities. That entry is significant because C&I buyers have different credit, scheduling and service expectations from utility offtakers.
A successful operating record can support further transactions with manufacturers seeking renewable electricity without building assets on their own premises. The key replicable capabilities will include land and grid development, captive structuring, consumer aggregation, forecasting, billing support and the ability to manage output over the full contract term.
Performance Will Be Measured at Both Ends
The Bathinda plant should be evaluated through generation, availability and loss metrics at the project site, but also through renewable-energy consumption at the Mohali facilities. Transmission losses, curtailment, schedule deviations and settlement outcomes affect how much solar electricity ultimately offsets conventional supply.
Swaraj’s facilities can strengthen the result by continuing energy-efficiency measures alongside renewable procurement. Efficiency reduces the total electricity needed, while solar changes its source. Combining the two can increase the share of demand met by clean power and reduce the amount of new capacity required to reach a given emissions objective.
Monthly disclosure of generated units, energy delivered to each consumer and the percentage of facility demand served would make the decarbonisation result easier to verify. It would also show how monsoon variation and manufacturing schedules affect the captive share, giving other industrial buyers a more realistic basis for sizing similar projects in Punjab.
Conclusion
The 42 MWp Bathinda project is a practical example of Indian manufacturing demand supporting new solar capacity within the same state. Its scale, reported domestic sourcing and water-saving cleaning approach add operational substance to the decarbonisation claim. Long-term value will come from dependable generation, compliant group-captive operation and measurable delivery of renewable electricity to Swaraj’s industrial facilities in Mohali.
References
Mahindra Group press release, 2 September 2026
This primary announcement confirms commissioning, location, technology, annual generation, domestic sourcing, water savings, expected emissions reduction and supply to Swaraj’s Mohali facilities.
Mahindra Susten company profile
The developer’s official page provides context on its Indian renewable-generation, EPC and emerging storage capabilities behind the commissioned project.
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