Commissioning of the 185 MW Wind-Solar Hybrid Project at Kalavad

Renewable energy developer CleanMax has announced the commissioning of its 185 MW wind-solar hybrid project in the Kalavad Taluka of Jamnagar District, Gujarat. The project, which reached operational status following a complex 12-month development and legal timeline, is designed to provide stable, renewable power to 17 major corporate consumers. While the project strengthens Gujarat’s renewable energy infrastructure, its completion follows a period of significant technical and regulatory navigation involving the state’s transmission utility.

Project Technical Specifications

The facility integrates wind and solar assets to mitigate the intermittency inherent in standalone renewable systems. Technical details of the installation and its grid integration include:

• Total Capacity: 185 MW (Aggregate capacity, including the 100 MW Cleanmax Vayu Private Limited segment).
• Project Type: Wind-Solar Hybrid.
• Specific Location: Villages of Devpur Ranuja, Kharedi, and Mudila; Taluka Kalavad, District Jamnagar.
• Substation Connectivity: Interconnected with the Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited (GETCO) 220 KV Kalavad Gas Insulated Substation (GIS).
• Grid Coordination: Project utilizes a shared evacuation system involving Stage-I (granted 01.04.2023) and Stage-II (granted 28.07.2023) connectivity protocols.

Commercial Model and Customer Base

The Kalavad project utilizes a “Group Captive” commercial framework, allowing commercial and industrial (C&I) entities to hold equity in the project to source clean energy at competitive tariffs.

The project currently serves a portfolio of 17 corporate clients. Key off-takers participating in this arrangement include Apar Industries and Borosil Renewables. This model enables these industrial leaders to meet their decarbonization targets while adhering to the GERC (Terms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access) Regulations.

Environmental and Financial Impact

Based on current projections, the Kalavad project is expected to deliver the following environmental and fiscal contributions:

CleanMax Operational Footprint

With the activation of the Kalavad site, CleanMax continues to expand its market share in the Indian C&I segment. According to company-reported figures, the firm’s total operational capacity within the state of Gujarat has reached 844 MW. Nationally, CleanMax’s operational footprint now totals approximately 3.1 GW, comprising a mix of solar, wind, and hybrid assets.

Official Leadership Statement

Regarding the strategic importance of the Kalavad commissioning and the company’s navigation of regional grid complexities, CleanMax leadership stated:

“The completion of the 185 MW Kalavad hybrid project is a testament to our technical resilience and commitment to Gujarat’s green energy transition. By successfully navigating the intricate grid-synchronization requirements at the GETCO Kalavad substation, we have secured a reliable power source for our C&I partners, further solidifying our national operational footprint of 3.1 GW.”

Technical Challenges and Regulatory Context

The project’s path to commissioning was notably marked by legal proceedings before the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC). Under Petition No. 2401 of 2024, Cleanmax Vayu Private Limited sought extensions for the 100 MW segment of the project, citing 465 days of delay due to unforeseen technical hurdles.

The project faced significant bottlenecks including:

1. Lead Generator Status: Delays in clarity regarding the “lead generator” status for bay sharing among multiple developers (including Morjar Renewables and Suzlon Global Services).
2. GIS Vendor Approvals: Delays in obtaining GETCO approval for specialized GIS bay extension vendors following changes in cross-border business policies affecting the original vendor, M/s Chint Global.
3. Drawing Approvals: Extensive timelines for common drawing approvals required for standardization and grid safety at the 220 KV substation.

The project adheres to the GERC Wind-Solar Hybrid Order No. 02 of 2020 (Clause 3.1) and the more recent Order No. 01 of 2024, which governs the procurement of power from hybrid projects. Regulatory compliance was maintained under Section 86 of the Electricity Act, 2003, and the “Procedure for Grant of RE Connectivity” dated January 7, 2023.