Gujarat to host Asia's largest solar energy park

Gujarat would house the largest solar energy park in Asia in two years, with a power production capacity of 500 Mw.

This would be set up with an investment of around Rs 8,000 crore (Rs 80 billion) flowing from companies such as GMR and Lanco, which have been assigned generation capacities under the Gujarat Solar Mission.

Gujarat had announced a solar power policy in January 2009, with a target of installing 1,000 Mw capacity by 2012 and 3,000 Mw by 2014. The state has already signed power purchase agreements for  934 Mw.

"We would have around 100 Mw solar power capacity commissioned by the end of this year, as part of the 500 Mw solar park project. Overall, we have allotted 274 Mw capacity to companies. Around Rs 15 crore (Rs 150 million) would go into setting up every Mw of power," D J Pandian, principal secretary (energy) in the state government toldBusiness Standard.

The park, on the lines of an industrial estate, is being developed by Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd, as the sectoral nodal agency, on around 2,000 hectares of wasteland bordering the Rann of Kutch, in Patan district. When commissioned, the project would provide 800 million units of power.

In the first phase, 15 solar power generation companies would produce 176 Mw and Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation would set up a power pooling station.

The overall project cost in phase-I would be Rs 1,287 crore (Rs 12.87 billion). This would include Rs 351 towards the cost of land and power infrastructure and Rs 624 crore (Rs 6.24 billion) for evacuation facilities.

The Planning Commission has already approved a one-time additional central assistance of Rs 210 crore (Rs 2.10 billion) for rthe development of the solar park.

The Asian Development Bank has approved a soft loan of $ 100 million for the project. This includes development of a 'smart grid' for evacuation of power.

Pandian said the state government had already signed an agreement with the Clinton Climate Initiative, which would be the technical consultant.

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Amul is official sponsor of Netherlands cricket team

Ahmedabad (Agencies): India’s leading dairy brand Amul have become the official sponsors of the Netherlands cricket team for the ICC Cricket World Cup starting February 19.

The Royal Netherlands Cricket Board (RNCB) signed the sponsorship deal with Amul yesterday. 
Logo of Amul Butter, a Gujrat based giant will appear on the sleeve of saffron jersrys of players as well as on the training kits throughout the World Cup.

"We were looking to associate with the game of cricket for long....World cup came as a good opportunity and it clicked," GCMMF Managing Director R S Sodhi said.

"We are getting associated with the Cricket World Cup for the first time and Amul welcomes the Netherlands team to Indian sub-continent," he said. However, he did not divulge the amount of money involved in the sponsorship deal. 
 Netherlands will play their first match against England on February 22 in Nagpur.

"I am delighted we have been able to bring Amul on board for the World Cup and will be showcasing the brand over the competition," RNCB Chief Executive Richard Cox said in a statement.

"It is also heartening to note that the level of their investment will extend not just to supporting the team but also allow us to invest in some key areas of the board, most notably our development programmes beyond the World Cup," Cox said. 
     
"The board has attracted over half a dozen new financial partners in last 12 months," he added.