Executive Summary
SAEL Industries is currently commissioning 600 MW of solar power capacity in Andhra Pradesh, with full operational status scheduled for December 2025. The project is being executed through subsidiaries SAEL Solar MHP1 Private Limited and SAEL Solar MHP2 Private Limited. This utility-scale expansion, located in the Kurnool region, will supply power to the regional grid under a long-term agreement while meeting international environmental and social governance (ESG) standards.
Technical Project Specifications
The infrastructure consists of high-efficiency Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) modules and tracking technology designed to maximize energy yield. The core technical configuration is detailed in the table below:
| Feature | Specification |
| Total Capacity | 600 MW (comprising two 300 MW units) |
| Module Technology | TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact) |
| Cell Configuration | 146-cell and 156-cell configurations |
| Total Modules | Approximately 1.2 Million |
| Module Efficiency | ~22.95% |
| Peak Output | Up to 635 Wp per module |
| Tracking System | Horizontal Single Axis Trackers |
Domestic Manufacturing Aspect The project utilizes a vertically integrated supply chain, with solar modules supplied directly from SAEL’s internal manufacturing facilities. These components, including the 146-cell and 156-cell TOPCon modules, are produced at the company’s Kishangarh and Greater Noida plants. This integration ensures internal control over technical specifications and component availability for the duration of the project’s development.
Contractual Framework and Power Evacuation
The commercial foundation of the project is a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). This agreement ensures a fixed-term commitment for the evacuation of all generated power.
Power is evacuated through dedicated 220 kV transmission lines extending approximately 14.17 km. According to technical documentation in Appendix 15, the infrastructure connects to the Kurnool-III Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) grid substation. This high-voltage connection point is designed to integrate the 600 MW capacity into the national grid with minimized transmission losses.
Corporate Milestone and Strategic Context
This 600 MW addition is a component of SAEL’s broader expansion, contributing to a total capacity milestone of 2.5 GWp. The company has established a corporate objective to reach 3 GW of installed capacity by FY26.
The project occupies a 1,500-acre land footprint across the villages of Koduru (Kondapuram Mandal, YSR District) and Bodaipalle (Tadipatri Mandal, Anantapur District). The project site is situated on agricultural land with soil compositions primarily consisting of sand and black soil blends.
Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) Standards
The project development follows specific international and national regulatory frameworks to ensure lender and regulatory compliance:
- AIIB Environmental and Social Framework (2024): Adherence to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s mandatory standards for assessment and management.
- World Bank Group EHS Guidelines: Compliance with General EHS guidelines and sector-specific standards for electric power transmission and distribution.
- IFC Performance Standard 6: Implementation of measures for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of living natural resources.
- Groundwater Resource Management: Due diligence confirmed “Safe” status for groundwater extraction in the project mandals. Data indicates extraction rates of 33.28% in Anantapur and 33.85% in YSR (Kadapa), remaining well within the 70% threshold defined for the “Safe” category.
- Social Compliance: The project area is outside of Schedule V designated areas, and assessments confirmed no impact on Indigenous Peoples or loss of collective attachment to ancestral territories in the project villages.
Leave a Comment