Energetica India Magazine March 2022

61 energetica INDIA- Mar_2022 SOLAR POWER Saint-Gobain Unveils 3 Facilities including Float Glass Plant at its Sriperumbudur Complex with Rs 500 Cr Investment €44.1 billion French glass and building material major Saint-Gobain has un- veiled its three facilities i.e. Float Glass Plant, an Integrated Windows Line and Saint-Gobain – SIPCOT Urban Forest at the company’s World Glass Complex at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. Set up with an investment of more than Rs 500 crore, these facilities will provide employment to over 200 people and take the cumulative investment in the World Glass Complex to more than Rs 3,750 crore. Also, Sriperumbudur Complex contin- ued to be the group’s single largest in- vestment destination globally. In September 2000, Saint-Gobain group inaugurated its first Float Glass Plant in India. Currently, the plant has an ex- panded production capacity of 130 per cent with a revolutionary design that will result in reducing the unit energy consumption by 20 per cent. This Float Glass Plant will meet the emerging needs of Architectural, Auto- motive (including Electric Vehicles) and Solar applications. Besides, the company’s integrated win- dows line at the Complex is the World’s first and Asia’s largest fully integrated facility. Spread over 10,000 sqm, it will have an annual production capability of 100,000 windows by the end of 2022. The fully digitized and completely au- tomated plant is backed by best-in- class innovation, research and testing to deliver the largest portfolio of UPVC Window products focusing on the evolv- ing needs of Acoustics, Solar/Thermal Comfort and Security. Commenting on the development, A R Unnikrishnan, Managing Director, Saint-Gobain India Pvt Ltd-Glass Busi- ness, said “In the flat glass industry over the last two decades, Saint-Gobain has consistently invested in People, Process- es, Technology and Innovation. Today, with 5 plants, we have over 50% of In- dia’s float glass manufacturing capac - ity. 60% of our float glass investments are in Tamil Nadu in the World Glass Complex, a unique location anywhere in the world, which manufactures the entire range of products comprising Clear Glass, Tinted Glass, Mirrors, So- lar Control Glass, Lacquered Glass, Advanced Glass (Insulated, Toughened and Laminated) and Security Glass (Fire-safe, Bullet and Blast Resistant). The World Glass Complex is also an ex- port house that accounts for over 90% of value-added flat glass exports from India. The Float Glass Plant and In- tegrated Windows Line that are being inaugurated today, will further enhance our capacity and capability to deliver world-class products & solutions. We are thankful to SIPCOT for joining hands with us in setting up the Urban Forest to expand the Green cover of the state and showcasing this unique public-pri- vate partnership.” Azure Power Fully Commissions 300 MW Bhadla Solar Project in Rajasthan India’s one of the leading independent power producers (IPP) Azure Power has fully commissioned its 300 MW Inter- state Transmission System (ISTS) con- nected solar power project in Bhadla, Rajasthan. The project was allocated by the state- owned Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), and the power generated from the project is being supplied to SECI at a tariff of Rs 2.58 (~US $3.7 cents) per kWh for 25 years. Following this, the company has now operationalized 2,683 MWs of high-per- forming renewable energy assets in In- dia. Commenting on the development, Ranjit Gupta, MD and CEO of Azure Power, said “we are extremely delight- ed with the progress we have made in operationalizing our under-construction projects, despite the health and supply chain challenges in the last two years. We have operationalized close to 700 MWs in this fiscal year so far, which reflects our strong project development and execution capabilities.” In February this year, the company had refinanced its existing project finance facility of Rs 23.50 billion for the con- struction of a 600 MW ISTS connect- ed solar project in Bikaner, Rajasthan. The project was fully commissioned in December last year. Also, the refinancing has been complet - ed at a 7.2 per cent per annum interest rate, which was fixed for 42 months and the lowest rate of interest for any project finance facility in terms of ru - pee financing for the company’s existing portfolio so far.