January 12, 2011
Suzlon Group signs MoU with Gujarat Government to develop 1,000 MW of wind power
- Signed under the auspices of Vibrant Gujarat
- Development could deliver investments of Rs. 6,000 crore (~USD 1.3 bn) in the state of Gujarat
- Will double Suzlon?s installations of 1,100 MW in Gujarat; potential to power more than 1.7 million households
Gandhinagar/Pune: Suzlon Group, the world?s third leading* wind power
company, announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government
of Gujarat to develop 1,000 megawatt (MW) of new wind power capacity in the
state over the next three years.
The MoU covers the development of new capacity in windfarms across the state,
with development planned in the districts of Saurashtra, Kutch and other parts of
Gujarat. The MoU was signed under the auspices of the fifth biennial Vibrant
Gujarat conference.
Suzlon Group has actively participated in Vibrant Gujarat, since its inception in
2003. Over the past five conferences, Suzlon has signed six MoU?s with the
Government of Gujarat, committing over Rs. 14,000 crore (~USD 3.1 bn) for the
development of wind farm projects, R&D centers, manufacturing facilities and in a
Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The Company has already delivered 60 per cent of
the promised development, translating into investments of Rs. 8,400 crore (~USD
1.9 bn) in the state.
Gujarat offers the largest wind potential in the country. Currently, Suzlon has over
1,100 MW of installations across Kutch, Porbandar, Rajkot and Bhavnagar districts
of Gujarat. The windpark in Kutch is one of the largest in Asia with installations of
over 800 MW and growing. This capacity translates to over 850 wind turbines
installed for over 256 customers, producing enough green and clean energy to
power nearly 880,000 Indian households. The favorable policy regime in the state
has facilitated this rapid growth and enabled Suzlon to bring in investments by
various national players like ONGC, Indian Oil, State Bank of India, DLF, Gujarat
State Petroleum Corporation, and leading state PSUs like Gujarat Mineral
Development Corporation and Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals.
Speaking on the development, Mr. Tulsi R Tanti, founder, Chairman and
Managing Director Suzlon Group, said: We are extremely pleased to sign this
MoU with the Government of Gujarat. This not only reinforces Gujarat?s position as
one of India?s leading industrial states, but as a visionary leader embracing
progressive policies emphasizing clean, sustainable development to power a lowcarbon
economy.
This MoU opens up the Gujarat market as an attractive destination for investors in
India and around the world, and could drive over Rs. 6,000 crore in new
investments into the state, translating into hundreds of green jobs. In addition to
direct benefits, the projects will also create plentiful clean energy to power the
state?s rapid growth.
Suzlon as a dream and a company was born in Gujarat. We started our
journey in 1995 with the first installation in Dhank, Gujarat. It gives us great pride
to be a part of its development into a world class low carbon economy in its own
right.
Gujarat is home to Suzlon?s rotor blade test facility to develop advanced
aerodynamics testing solutions the first and only one of its kind in Asia, and one
of three in the world. With five manufacturing units in Vadodara, Bhuj and
Gandhidham, the state is the manufacturing hub for Suzlon. Suzlon has its state
headquarters in Ahemdabad and employs nearly 1,200 people across its various
facilities in the state.
