New Delhi, India, July 11, 2013
—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is providing a $3 million loan to independent energy producer Azure Power for one of its subsidiaries to construct a rooftop solar project in the Indian state of Gujarat, thereby expanding access to clean energy and creating economic opportunities for local residents.
This is the country’s first rooftop solar project based on a public private partnership model in India. The Gujarat government awarded the project through competitive bidding for a period of 25 years. To implement the project, Azure Power is constructing a 2.5 megawatt rooftop solar project in the state capital Gandhinagar that will be connected to the state electricity grid. IFC’s investment in the subsidiary is expected to help avoid around 3,600 tons of carbon
emissions a year.
“The project is a role model for rooftop generation of solar power across states in India.
With this, Azure Power has forayed into distributed solar power generation. We are committed to driving down cost of energy for end consumers,” said Inderpreet S. Wadhwa, Azure Power’s Chief Executive Officer. “IFC’s investment in the project demonstrates the viability of distributed solar power generation in India.”
The project is one of two pilots being implemented in Gandhinagar. The developer has rented rooftops of government and private buildings to install and operate grid-interactive photovoltaic systems. These installations feed the electricity generated into the grid for which the state distribution company pays a fixed tariff under a 25-year power purchase agreement.
“The project will assist the state in introducing public-private participation to generate green energy at the household level. The project supports reduction in greenhouse gas emissions,” said Anita George, IFC Infrastructure Director for Asia. “At the same time, local residents can earn additional income by offering rooftops for installing solar panels.”
Azure Power is an existing client of IFC and has a current portfolio of about 55 megawatt of solar power projects in India.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. We help developing countries achieve sustainable growth by financing investment, mobilizing capital in international financial markets, and providing advisory services to businesses and governments. In FY12, our investments reached an all-time high of more than $20 billion, leveraging the power of the private sector to create jobs, spark innovation, and tackle the world’s most pressing development challenges. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org
.
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